Signed by President Barack Obama II

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that repeals the policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces.

Highlights:

• Repeals the policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces, commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", which includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• That a member of the armed forces who has engaged in a homosexual act be terminated from the armed forces;
• That a member of the armed forces who has stated that he or she is a homosexual or a bisexual be terminated from the armed forces; and
• That a member of the armed forces who has married or attempted to marry a person of the same biological sex be terminated from the armed forces.

• Specifies that the Secretary of Defense has requested a comprehensive review assessing the potential impact of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the repeal will become effective 60 days after the date on which the last of the following occurs (Sec. 2):
• Receipt by the Secretary of Defense of the results of the comprehensive review; and
• Transmittal of a written certification, signed by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to the congressional defense committees stating that the recommendations posed by the review have been considered and that implementation of the repeal will be consistent with standards of military readiness.

• Specifies that existing policy will remain in effect until the aforementioned requirements are met (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the repeal of this policy does not invalidate any portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, which states that marriage is between one man and one woman and that a spouse is someone of the opposite sex (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that nothing in the legislation should be construed to create grounds for a private lawsuit (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and adopt additional amendments to a bill that repeals the policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces.

Highlights:

• Repeals the policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces, commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", which includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• That a member of the armed forces who has engaged in a homosexual act be terminated from the armed forces;
• That a member of the armed forces who has stated that he or she is a homosexual or a bisexual be terminated from the armed forces; and
• That a member of the armed forces who has married or attempted to marry a person of the same biological sex be terminated from the armed forces.

• Specifies that the Secretary of Defense has requested a comprehensive review assessing the potential impact of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the repeal will become effective 60 days after the date on which the last of the following occurs (Sec. 2):
• Receipt by the Secretary of Defense of the results of the comprehensive review; and
• Transmittal of a written certification, signed by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to the congressional defense committees stating that the recommendations posed by the review have been considered and that implementation of the repeal will be consistent with standards of military readiness.

• Specifies that existing policy will remain in effect until the aforementioned requirements are met (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the repeal of this policy does not invalidate any portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, which states that marriage is between one man and one woman and that a spouse is someone of the opposite sex (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that nothing in the legislation should be construed to create grounds for a private lawsuit (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text