AIDS Action Applauds Clinton's DOD Bill Veto, Echoes Objection to Dornan Provision

Statement of Christine Lubinski
Executive Deputy Director, AIDS Action Council

AIDS Action applauds President Clinton's veto of the 1996 Department of Defense Authorization bill, and consequently of a provision included in the bill by Rep. Robert Dornan (R-Calif.) that mandates the immediate discharge of service members who are HIV-infected. We urge members of Congress and the American public to join President Clinton in denouncing a discriminatory provision that would unfairly cut short the military careers of more than 1,100 service members and, further, would deny them access to the essential military medical care that has traditionally been extended to service members who are discharged for medical reasons.

If the GOP congressional leadership opts to re-consider this bill, which because Congress has already approved and the President has signed the 1996 military spending bill might not happen, AIDS Action urges members of Congress to push for the removal from the bill of the Dornan language and strive to keep such un-American and extremist ideals from being considered, much less legislated into law.

Founded in 1984, AIDS Action Council is the only national organization devoted solely to lobbying the federal government on AIDS policy, legislation and funding. AIDS Action represents more than 1,000 community-based AIDS service organizations throughout the United States.

For more information, contact:
Josi Zunniga
AIDS Action Council
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW #700
Washington DC 20009
202-986-1300 x 3042
202-986-1345 (fax)
202-332-9614 (tty)
E-Mail: aidsaction@aidsaction.org

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12/7/95--HandsNet Public Forums--HN3384