Date:         Tue, 30 Jan 1996 10:26:26 -0500
From: DennyCLU@AOL.COM

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News from the ACLU National Headquarters

              ACLU Urges Clinton to Veto Defense Bill
             Barring Abortions and HIV-Positive Troops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 29, 1996

WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today called on
President Clinton to stand by his principles and veto a defense budget
bill that would deny abortions to military personnel and require the
Pentagon to discharge HIV-positive servicemembers.

    Although President Clinton had cited the two amendments when he
vetoed the first version of the defense bill in December, the White
House announced Thursday that he will sign the conference agreement,
having won other concessions from House and Senate Republicans.

    "If President Clinton fails to veto the bill, it will be a
disturbing retreat from his promises to protect a woman's right to
choose, and to treat HIV-positive individuals with fairness, dignity
and compassion," said Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU's
Washington Office.

    "In agreeing to these House provisions, the Senate shamefully
joined in pandering to homophobia and extremism," said Murphy.  "The
President should continue to act on the traditional American values
embodied in the Bill of Rights, and reject these mean-spirited
proposals."

    The two amendments, which are attached to the National Defense
Authorization Act, demonstrate a clear disregard for civil liberties
and constitutionally protected rights, according to the ACLU.  One
would deny armed forces personnel access to overseas military
hospitals for abortions, even if they paid for the procedure
themselves.

    The other would force the Department of Defense to discharge and
replace all HIV-positive personnel, including those who are able-bodied.
 "There is simply no way to justify discharging soldiers and
sailors who have HIV," said Matt Coles, Director of the ACLU's AIDS
Project.  "The military keeps people with every other chronic disease
in noncombat jobs.  The only reason for singling out people with HIV
is flat out prejudice.  This is a disgraceful bill ."

    "This is a deeply troubling turn of events," continued Coles.
"The ACLU will be working closely with our colleagues and the
bipartisan group of congressional members who oppose mandating
discrimination against people with HIV."  Coles concluded that the
Administration  "must keep its commitment to reverse this policy
before it goes into effect."

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 Contact: Denny Lee, (212) 944-9800 ext. 424

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Media Relations Office 132 W 43rd Street, NYC 10036 (212) 944-9800 ext. 414