FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 52

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LOW (Sponsor), OXFORD, BURNETT, NASHEED, KANDER, COLONA, HUMMEL, ZIMMERMAN, MORRIS AND TALBOY (Co-sponsors).

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            Whereas, lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans have served honorably in the Armed Forces throughout United States history and continue to serve with distinction on active duty, including in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

            Whereas, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy currently does not allow openly lesbian, gay, or bisexual Americans to serve in the military only because of their sexual orientation; and

            Whereas, more than 12,000 service members have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy since the policy was enacted in 1993, including approximately 800 service members who performed heavily specialized jobs, such as Arabic translators, medical specialists, pilots, and intelligence personnel; and

            Whereas, American taxpayers have spent more then $250 million to carry out the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by removing and replacing qualified and honorable service members because of their sexual orientation; and

            Whereas, the United States military's readiness to protect and defend our nation is severely compromised by spending taxpayer money to discharge honorable service members who are satisfactorily carrying out all required tasks, many of which are highly specialized, making it difficult to find qualified replacement personnel; and

            Whereas, America's allies in the war on terror, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Israel, allow lesbian and gay service members to serve openly; and

            Whereas, every Department of Defense authorized study has shown that there is no correlation between sexual orientation and unit cohesion in the Armed Forces; and

            Whereas, there are more than 20,000 military and civilian personnel stationed in Missouri, and an estimated 9,000 lesbian, gay, or bisexual veterans currently reside in Missouri:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-fifth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that would replace the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy with a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, and respectfully urge the Congress to pass and the President to sign the Military Readiness Enhancement Act so that lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans are able to serve their country as any other American would be allowed to serve; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each member of Missouri's congressional delegation.        

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