June 13, 2013

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Hails Passage of Amendments Supporting Ending War in Afghanistan, Modernizing Discriminatory HIV Laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661

Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the passage of two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act on the floor of the House:

On the passage of the McGovern-Jones-Smith-Lee-Garamendi Amendment on Afghanistan, which would ensure that the President completes the transition to Afghan control of combat operations by the end of 2014, Congresswoman Lee said,I have long called for a responsible and immediate end to the war in Afghanistan and today’s Congressional action is long overdue. With the passage of this amendment, it’s clear that we are turning a corner on the war in Afghanistan. It’s long past time for the longest war in America’s history to come to an end.”

On the passage of her bi-partisan amendment requiring a report from Defense Secretary to report to Congress on the use of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Manual for Courts-Martial, and related policies, punitive articles, and regulations with regard to service members living with or at risk of contracting HIV, Congresswoman Lee said,  “I’m so pleased that this is a bi-partisan effort and am proud that my colleague Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has joined me in this effort. Modernizing laws when it comes to our military is essential, and the laws that dictate the lives of our service members should reflect contemporary understanding of the science of HIV. I’m proud that the House has recognized this essential piece of working towards an AIDS-free generation, and my amendment would take an important first step in ensuring that our laws reflect current scientific understandings of HIV.”

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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.


Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, as well as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus(CPC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the CPC Peace and Security Task Force.