Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The repeal of this policy allowed thousands of American servicemembers to live and serve without fear. Finally, brave Americans are able to defend their country--our country--without worrying about both the stigma and the punishment that they could face because of whom they loved. This decision, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, impacted many of my constituents in Virginia's Seventh District, including Stephanie Merlo, an Army veteran. With her permission, I am honored to share her story tonight on the floor of the House of Representatives. Stephanie begins by explaining that: ``A year after 9/11 happened, I enlisted as an Active Duty servicemember in the Army. My mom cried; my brother was proud; and I was honestly excited and scared both at the same time. ``Was I scared of deploying? Sure, a little. Was I afraid of failing? Of course. ``But my overall fear, that which consumed me beyond the point of depression, was the fear of being `ousted' and discharged for being a lesbian. In February of 2004, that fear showed its face, and I was backed into a corner with deciding how I wanted to proceed with my military career.'' How many servicemembers had this fear?…”