HI HCR246

Requests Congress to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and establish a nondiscrimination policy based on sexual orientation for U.S. Armed Forces members, consistent with House Bill 1283 (2009).

Cites a 2005 Government Accountability Office study finding that nearly 9,500 service members were discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" between 1994 and 2003, with 757 holding critical occupations and 322 possessing critical language skills such as Arabic, Farsi, and Korean.

Notes that replacement costs for discharged service members totaled approximately $95,000,000 to $95,100,000 according to the GAO and military branch estimates.

References support from retired General John Shalikashvili and 104 retired generals and admirals who stated that repealing the policy would not harm and would help the armed forces, and acknowledges approximately 1,000,000 gay and lesbian veterans have served honorably.

Directs transmission of certified copies to the Senate President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, Secretary of Defense, and Hawaii's congressional delegation.