Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 17:29:59 -0500 From: Denny LEE / ACLU _________________________________________________________________ News from the ACLU National Headquarters ACLU Says Clinton is Right Not to Defend HIV Provisions in Military Budget Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 9, 1996 WASHINGTON -- In response to President Clinton's announcement today that he considers the provisions in the military budget bill requiring the discharge of HIV-positive troops to be unconstitutional, the American Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement: "The President is right; this callous measure is unconstitutional. Although it would have been better if he had vetoed the provision, he should throw the full weight of the Administration behind repealing it. If repeal efforts should fail, the ACLU is prepared to challenge this measure in court in coalition with other civil liberties and AIDS advocacy organizations." "This measure is an embarrassment to Congress. There is no reason to single out this chronic illness for discrimination except for prejudice. The measure would undermine military effectiveness, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. No one in Congress, in the military, nor any commentator or observer outside the right-wing fringes of Capitol Hill, will defend this measure publicly. Congress should repeal it now." (This statement is attributed to Matthew Coles, Director of the ACLU's AIDS Project.) --30-- Contact: Denny Lee, (212) 944-9800 ext. 424 _________________________________________________________________ Media Relations Office 132 W 43rd Street, NYC 10036 (212) 944-9800 ext. 414