
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
As the days dwindle before the congressional August recess commences August 9, "don't ask, don't tell" repeal advocates are angling for a firm commitment from Senate majority leader Harry Reid for a September vote on the defense authorization bill, to which the repeal measure is attached.
"We are asking of the majority leader the same thing that we believe Senator [Carl] Levin is asking, and that is to schedule the defense authorization bill shortly after the August recess," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "We would like him to make that announcement before the Senate leaves town at the end of next week."
A spokesman for Reid said the majority leader does anticipate a vote being taken in September but declined to give a definite date.
"We expect to have a vote in September," said Jim Manley.
Alex Nicholson, executive director of the gay veterans group Servicemembers United, said the vote's timing is at Reid's discretion and expressed frustration at the delay.
"Senator Reid, in his capacity as the Senate majority leader, has the power to bring the defense authorization bill -- with DADT repeal included -- to the floor of the Senate for debate and a vote," Nicholson said. "Senator Reid did not do that in July, despite the fact that Senator Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, confirmed the authorization bill is 100% ready to go."
The defense funding bill for 2011, formally called the National Defense Authorization Act, is typically considered a must-pass bill every year since it appropriates money for troops, weapons, and overall defense spending. But the bill has several controversial provisions, not least of which is a measure that would allow women serving in the military to receive abortion care at military hospitals if they self-fund the procedure.
Both the White House and Defense secretary Robert Gates have also said President Barack Obama would veto the legislation if it includes funding to build an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Striker Fighter -- a provision that is included in the House version of the bill.
In all, three votes are still necessary to send the bill to the president's desk -- the Senate version must be passed by the full chamber, and then after the bills go to conference to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions, each chamber will have to pass the final conference report.
But not voting on the legislation before the midterm election in November would be highly unusual.
"If the bill does not come up before the lame-duck session, this will be one of just a few times in the past 50 years that the authorization bill is not considered prior to an election," said Fred Sainz, vice president of communications for the Human Rights Campaign. "Certainly, there are vulnerabilities associated with that timing that we want to avoid."
Even if the Senate floor vote transpires in September, the final vote on the conference report may not happen until December. But Sarvis said he finds that less of a concern.
"It's one thing to be voting on the bill in the lame-duck, but it's another to be voting on the conference report in the lame-duck," he said.
Beyond issues associated with the bill itself, the Senate also has a backlog of other measures that are vying for attention -- comprehensive immigration reform, a climate bill, and a number of appropriations bills that must be addressed.
"In the end, I think the Senate will do what they normally do on defense authorization -- they will move it," said Sarvis, adding that a number of Democrats and Republicans alike don't want to appear to ignoring their commitments to the troops overseas.
In the meantime, advocates continue to lobby senators on the floor vote, asking them if they will vote for the overall funding bill, how they would vote on a measure to strip out DADT repeal, and how they would vote on a hypothetical amendment to broaden the certification process.
SLDN and HRC announced a joint partnership Thursday morning targeting key senators from 10 states on the vote: Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lauren Boebert Caught Fondling Date’s Genitals During Family-Friendly Musical: Video
September 15 2023 11:20 PM
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Donatella Versace Blasts the Italian Government’s Wave of Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies
October 01 2023 1:00 PM
Did You Know ‘Christian Girl Autumn’ Influencer Caitlin Covington Is an LGBTQ+ Ally?
October 01 2023 10:00 AM
Florida College Enters Deal with Department of Education Over Its Alleged Civil Rights Violations
September 30 2023 4:09 PM
Pete Buttigieg Has to Keep Explaining to Republicans That Seasons Aren't Climate Change
September 30 2023 10:00 AM
Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson Mix Art and Crime in Gay Director Nicol Paone's 'Kill Room'
September 29 2023 9:51 PM
Homophobe Matt Gaetz Seeks Democratic Alliance to Oust McCarthy Amid Shutdown Drama: Report
September 29 2023 6:30 PM
Dylan Mulvaney Is Trevor Project's Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year
September 29 2023 4:29 PM
Outfest's Union Effort Meets Employee Layoffs and Executive Director Takes Leave of Absence
September 29 2023 4:00 PM