Washington, DC – United States Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Charles Rangel (D-NY) joined United States Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce the Restore Honor to Service Members Act.
This legislation was introduced to help service members discharged for no other reason than their sexual orientation correct their military record to reflect their honorable service.
OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a watchdog and policy organization, released a statement in response to the proposed legislation.
“I applaud U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Kirsten Gillibrand along with Representative Charlie Rangel on being the lead sponsors of this bill,” said Matt Thorn, Interim Executive Director for OutServe-SLDN, in the statement. “I particularly thank and praise Representative Mark Pocan on initiating this legislation and working with OutServe-SLDN. As a member of the LGBT Caucus, Congressman Pocan continues to be one of our staunchest supporters for LGBT service members and veterans in the U.S. Congress.”
This legislation opens discharge upgrades for an estimated 100,000 service members who were discharged for their sexual orientation.
