Statement on the Passing of U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), issued a statement today on the passing of U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV).

Statement from Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:

“Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) achieved much for his state of West Virginia and the nation. Some of his votes over the years were controversial and not where most Americans stood.  But Senator Byrd evolved in his thinking on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ as did our country.  His evolution is mirrored in his votes on DADT – seventeen years ago Senator Byrd voted for DADT; last month in the Senate Armed Services Committee he voted for a path to repeal the law.  We hope the new Senator from West Virginia will follow the lead of Senator Byrd on this issue.”