February 3, 2011


Chairman Buck McKeon
House Armed Services Committee
2340 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Chairman Joe Wilson
Personnel Subcommittee
House Armed Services Committee
2340 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Repeal of Law Regarding the Ineligibility of Homosexuals for Military Service, Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C.

Dear Chairman McKeon and Wilson:

The undersigned represent some of the largest multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-generational faith-based and policy organizations in the country, with approximately 40 million constituents combined. We encourage you to hold hearings regarding the repeal of the law that prevents homosexuals from being eligible to serve in the military, Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C. (1993), as soon as possible.

As you know, the repeal, which was passed during the lame duck session with little discussion of the effects of such repeal, has not yet gone into effect. In fact, prior to its implementation, President Obama, Admiral Mullen, and Secretary Gates must certify that allowing homosexuals to serve will not have negative consequences for the military. Additionally, even when they provide the certification, knowing the negative effects that will ensue, the repeal law requires 60 days to pass before the repeal goes into effect.

Thus, there is still time to save our military, and especially our service-members with sincerely held religious beliefs that will, inevitably, be silenced by non-discrimination policies that elevate and favor sexual minorities.

We encourage you to conduct hearings regarding the flaws in the Comprehensive Review Working Group Report and the real and negative effects of a full repeal. Additionally, in the meantime, we would appreciate you pushing for a vote on Represenative Hunter’s bill, H.R. 337, the Restore Military Readines Act of 2011, which amends the repeal bill that was passed in December, to add a new paragraph,

The Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force each submit to the congressional defense committees the officer's written certification that repeal of section 654 of title 10, United States Code, will not degrade the readiness, effectiveness, cohesion, and morale of combat arms units and personnel of the Armed Force under the officer's jurisdiction engaged in combat, deployed to a combat theater, or preparing for deployment to a combat theater.

The 1993 law was passed after twelve legislative hearings and field trips – our military deserves similar consideration today. We appreciate the efforts you have undertaken thus far in securing the readiness and effectiveness of the greatest military in the world. Please remain vigilant.

Sincerely,
Mathew Staver
Chairman
Freedom Federation
Dean and Professor of Law
Liberty University School of Law

Tom McClusky
Sr. Vice President
Family Research Council Actio

Penny Nance
Chief Executive Officer
Concerned Women for America

Tom Minnery
Sr. V.P. of Gov. and Public Policy
CitizenLink

Phillip Jauregui
President
Judicial Action Group

Deryl Edwards
President
Liberty Counsel Action

Tom Shields
Chairman
Coalitions for Marriage and Family
Massachusetts

Morton Blackwell
Chairman
The Weyrich Lunch

Colin A. Hanna
President
Let Freedom Ring

Elaine Donnelly
President
Center for Military Readiness

Andrea Lafferty
Executive Director
Traditional Values Coalition

Gary Bauer
President
American Values

Dr. Richard Land
President
Southern Baptist Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission

C. Preston Noell, III
President
Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.

Larry Cirignano
Faithful Catholic Citizens

Stephen Stone
President
RenewAmerica

Lt. Col. John C. Williams, USAF (Ret)
Former Assistant Deputy
Under-Secretary of Defense

Dr. Alan L. Keyes
Honorary Chairman
Declaration Alliance

Richard W. C. Faulkner
Chairman
Maryland Center-Right Coalition

Col. Kris Mineau, USAF (Ret)
President
Massachusetts Family Institute

Matt Barber
Director of Cultural Affairs
Liberty Counsel

Diane Gramley
President
American Family Association of
Pennsylvania

Randy Thomasson
President
SaveCalifornia.com

Dr. Cindy Jacobs
President and Co-founder
Generals International

Rev. Eric M. Wallace
Publisher and Editor in Chief
Freedom’s Journal Magazine

Cliff Kincaid
President
America’s Survival, Inc.

Mark R. Spengler
Executive Director
Center for Law and Social Strategy

Anita Staver
President
Liberty Counsel

Mandi Campbell
Legal Director
Liberty Center for Law and Policy

Dr. Michael L. Brown
Director
The Coalition of Conscience

Bill Johnson
American Decency Association

Dr. Rick ScarboroughFounder and President
Vision America