From: Hrccomm@aol.com Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 12:27:48 -0500 Subject: Congress Defers Decision on HIV Repeal Measure - Act Now! ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 29, 1996 CONGRESS DEFERS DECISION ON HIV REPEAL MEASURE HRC Warns Against Alternative' That Would Postpone Discharges by Six Months *** Send Fast and Easy Messages To Your Members of Congress through HRC's Automated Online Action Center! http://www.hrcusa.org *** WASHINGTON -- Congress put off deciding the fate of legislation Friday that would repeal the discriminatory HIV-discharge provision of the recently enacted Department of Defense authorization. House and Senate negotiators failed to reach agreement on a long-term spending bill and instead passed another stopgap measure to keep the government running through April 24. The Senate version of the long-term spending bill includes language, passed unanimously on March 19, that would overturn the mandatory expulsions. The Human Rights Campaign, which has played a leading role in the fight to repeal this unnecessary provision, warned Friday against an alternative proposal being floated by several House budget negotiators that would delay the expulsions by six months. "Obviously, the only possible motive would be to put off firing these loyal service members until after the congressional elections," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's senior health policy advocate. "The moral course of action here is to overturn this mean-spirited expulsion provision quickly and completely." On March 19, the Senate unanimously agreed to an amendment to repeal the discriminatory HIV-discharge provision of the recently enacted Department of Defense authorization. Led by Sens. William Cohen, R-Maine, and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., 56 senators had agreed to co-sponsor the repeal legislation, but decided to put it forth as an amendment to the longer-term spending measure. That measure, H.R. 3019, the Omnibus Rescissions and Appropriations Act, also known as a "continuing resolution" that would fund many parts of the government, passed by a vote of 79-21. Among the Senate co-sponsors of the repeal measure are Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., Connie Mack, R-Fla., Sam Nunn, D-Ga., Slade Gorton, R-Wash., and Robert Bennett, R-Utah. The Cohen-Kennedy amendment would repeal the provision in the defense authorization that singles out HIV-positive service members for mandatory discharge and cuts off health benefits to their families. That discriminatory measure, written by Rep. Bob Dornan, R-Calif., affects 1,049 HIV-positive service members currently in the armed forces. A similar effort to repeal it in the House currently has more than 155 co-sponsors from both parties. The Dornan provision singles out service members with HIV and treats them differently from those with other chronic medical conditions. Before it was enacted, service members with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, were allowed to serve their country as long as they could perform their duties, but they were not deployed overseas. The same policy applies to service members who have other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease or cancer. The Pentagon has said that about half the HIV-positive service members are married, and on average, have served for a decade. Nearly 20 percent of them are officers. The repeal effort has the support of President Clinton, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. John Shalikashvili, Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Air Force Association. In addition, former Sen. Barry Goldwater and conservative columnists Charles Krauthammer and George Will oppose the Dornan provision. Based on legal advice from the Justice Department, Clinton has characterized the discharge provision as unconstitutional, and has put the full force of his administration behind the drive to repeal it. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -