Political Quotes

“despite my objections to the omnibus appropriations bill, I am pleased that it includes an amendment overturning the prohibition on military service by HIV-positive personnel. As my colleagues are aware, this grossly unfair prohibition was established in the fiscal year 1996 DOD authorization bill and will become effective this summer. I opposed the fiscal year 1996 DOD authorization bill largely because of this provision. The day the Senate approved that provision, I vowed to mount an effort for repeal. I am pleased that today, the full Senate has joined in that fight. The policy now in effect--developed in the Reagan and Bush administration--works well. The amendment contained in this bill reinstates the current policy, in which military personnel who test positive for the HIV virus are permitted to keep their jobs, so long as they are physically able. Currently, HIV-positive personnel are treated in the same manner as other soldiers with chronic ailments such as diabetes and heart disease. Only about 20 percent of the roughly 6,000 worldwide nondeployable troops are HIV positive. Dismissing all HIV-positive soldiers makes no sense. Why should the Pentagon fire military personnel who perform their duties well and exhibit no signs of illness? This would waste millions of tax dollars in unnecessary separation and retraining costs.”