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Washington, November 19, 2010 /LGBT News/ Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), who co-sponsored and voted in the House of Representatives this year to end the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy and to support the DREAM Act, releases the following statement in support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's intention to move both proposals ahead:

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is to be commended for his bold leadership in advancing both the repeal of the blatantly discriminatory 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy and the forward-looking DREAM Act to the Senate floor. As a co-sponsor in the House of both the DADT Repeal and the DREAM Act I look forward to Senate approval that will send both these measures to the President's desk.

"Bringing the repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' to a vote as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, as Senator Reid intends, is the surest way to allow gay men and lesbians finally to serve openly in our Armed Services. DADT is not only discriminatory, it is harmful to the readiness, morale and recruiting imperatives for our nation's defense.

"Senator Reid recognizes that the DREAM Act is good economic, military and educational policy and is offering the Senate an opportunity to advance those goals. This bill allows the children of undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship if they go to college or join the military. No one benefits by keeping young adults, many of whom have no memory of their country of birth and consider themselves Americans, in the shadows of society. We need comprehensive immigration reform, and we need to address the broad array of complex issues, but this one is simple, urgent and fair."