Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 21, 1993                   TAG: 9307210140
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CONGRESSIONAL REACTION

"I'm concerned about it. I'm for maintaining the ban. I fear the president's policy is wishy-washy and could lead to litigation. The military exists for one reason - to be a fighting force. It shouldn't be used for social experiments that could affect a unit's cohesion and morale. The underlying question is: Will this undermine the cohesion and morale of a good fighting force?"

Some congressmen say they want to hear what the Joint Chiefs of Staff support before making up their minds. Goodlatte disagrees. "The Joint Chiefs are not constitutional lawyers."

\ SEN. JOHN WARNER: Has opposed lifting the ban. On Monday, Warner said he would withhold comment until he heard from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After hearing from General Colin Powell on Tuesday, Warner said the policy is "far from clear."

He observed that federal courts likely will interpret it as discriminatory, unrealistic and a restriction on the constitutional right to free speech. In essence, this proposal "orders homosexuals to take an oath of celibacy throughout their military service."

He said the policy would not improve military readiness and "any action a president or Congress takes . . . must always be directed at improving readiness." He urged the president to "go back and try again."