UPDATE @ 10:07 a.m.: Kerry Eleveld is live-tweeting from the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. She’s already reported that while Chairman Levin didn’t mention DADT in his opening remarks, the ranking member, John McCain, did:
McCain: Obviously, any changes in the policy I think is working would have to be extremely carefully considered #DADT
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The Senate and House Armed Services Committees are holding hearings today on the Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization. But, there’s a very good chance that the issue of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be asked of the witnesses at both sessions.
In the Senate Committee, the Army budget is the subject of the hearing with Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh and General George W. Casey, Jr., USA, who serves as Chief of Staff of the Army (meaning he’s one of the Joint Chiefs.)
On the House side, the subject is the Air Force budget. The witnesses are Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and General Norton A. Schwartz, USAF, who serves as Chief of Staff for the Air Force.
McHugh wants a change in the current law. But, members of Congress on both Armed Services Committees will be most interest in what the chiefs have to say.
The primary action for repealing DADT will be in the Senate Armed Services Committee. To insure repeal, the provision repealing the law has to be included in the bill that Committee sends to the floor. Servicemembers United explained the legislative path for repeal yesterday. The President has an important role in this process. To succeed, we need everyone to deliver.
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