Washington D.C. (Link) – Today, during the House Armed Services Committee mark up of the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act, Republicans proposed and passed an amendment that would allow members of the Armed Services and Chaplains to discriminate and slander the beliefs of others. The amendment would seriously undermine good order and discipline in the United States military.

“This amendment would allow members of the Armed Services and Chaplains to express their beliefs - in the form of action or speech – without taking responsibility for the damage those beliefs may cause,” said Ranking Member Adam Smith. “Under this amendment, if a member of the Armed Services wants to disparage – through action or speech – the beliefs or lifestyle of another member of the Armed Services they can now do so. This is extremely dangerous, it’s immoral and it could have a dramatic effect on good order and discipline.”

The amendment, offered by Representative Fleming (R-LA), states that the Armed Services must accommodate the beliefs, actions and speech of service members and Champlain’s, regardless of what they might be.