Cord Byrd: “last week, I took the Senate floor to call attention to reports that the Secretary of Defense was prepared to offer a…”

“last week, I took the Senate floor to call attention to reports that the Secretary of Defense was prepared to offer a proposal that would ease the penalties for adultery in the military. The report set off alarm bells in my own mind because moral responsibility in the military cannot be compromised without undermining the core values of the services --values such as honor, integrity, and loyalty. As a result of my remarks, Secretary Cohen called me at home on Sunday--I believe it was Sunday--to assure me that he had no intention of watering down the Defense Department's policies concerning adultery and fraternization. In fact, he said, the new rules he was considering would strengthen those policies. I appreciate the seriousness with which Secretary Cohen views this matter, and I applaud his efforts to come to grips with policies that have precipitated uneven treatment of military personnel and have resulted in morale-damaging charges of double standards. The proposed new Pentagon policies were announced earlier this week, and I commend Secretary Cohen for upholding the military code of justice and resisting pressure to reduce the penalties for adultery. I wish I could have confidence that the new policies are sufficient and will fulfill Secretary Cohen's intent of ensuring even-handed treatment of adultery in the military. Unfortunately, I fear that the new policies fall short of the mark in that respect.”