{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-urges-dod-to-rescind-policy-preventing-sikhs-from-serving-in-the-military", "Kaine Urges DOD To Rescind Policy Preventing Sikhs From Serving In The Military", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kaine Urges DOD To Rescind Policy Preventing Sikhs From Serving In The Military\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 9, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, calling on the Department of Defense (DoD) to repeal a dress and appearance policy that prevents practicing Sikhs from serving in the military.\r\nUnder current DoD policy, implemented in 1988, members of the Sikh faith are unable to serve in the military unless they abandon their articles of faithnamely maintaining unshorn hair, beards, and wearing a turban, Kaine wrote. While I appreciate the importance of military protocol and understand the importance of unit cohesion, I do not believe that any American should have to choose between his or her religion and service to country.\"\r\nThousands of American soldiers and officers already receive grooming and uniform accommodations for reasons other than religion. In June of this year, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia held that a Sikhs individual readiness is not diminished any more than the readiness of servicemembers who receive non-religious grooming and uniform accommodations.\r\nKaine previously urged Secretary Carters predecessor, Chuck Hagel, to modify DoDs policy to allow practicing Sikhs to serve in 2013 and 2014.\r\nFull Text of Senator Kaines Letter:\r\nDecember 9, 2015\r\nThe Honorable Ashton Carter  Secretary of Defense  Department of Defense  10000 Defense Pentagon  Washington, D.C. 20301-1000\r\nDear Secretary Carter:\r\nI write you to express my concern about a Department of Defense (DoD) policy that affects a group of religious constituents that is an important population in Virginia.\r\nUnder current DoD policy, implemented in 1988, members of the Sikh faith are unable to serve in the military unless they abandon their articles of faithnamely maintaining unshorn hair, beards, and wearing a turban. While I appreciate the importance of military protocol and understand the importance of unit cohesion, I do not believe that any American should have to choose between his or her religion and service to country. The June 12, 2015 ruling by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the Secretary of the Army highlights the inequality to exceptions to uniform policy, a majority of which are for secular reasons. According to the court, a Sikhs individual readiness is not diminished more than the readiness of tens of thousands of soldiers and officers who have received grooming and uniform accommodations for reasons other than religion. I ask that you take all necessary steps to ensure that this policy is rescinded.\r\nSikhs fought bravely in defense of our nation in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In addition to their history of military service in America, Sikhs serve in the militaries of Great Britain, Canada, and India, among others, and as United Nations Peacekeepersoften working closely with American troops in troubled regions. The ability of our service members to partner with allies from nations with different grooming standards, and the accommodation of relaxed grooming standards of many U.S. Special Forces units demonstrates that facial hair and other physical attributes do not negatively impact our forces combat effectiveness or performance of military duties.\r\nOur military has a long and distinguished history of training individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities to achieve one, unifying goal: to protect and defend the United States. By disallowing members of the Sikh faith the ability to fully practice their religion while serving, the military denies itself access to the important talents and abilities of these individuals who are willing to fight and die for our nation. Including Sikh Americans will enrich the militarys understanding of diverse cultures, languages, and religions, thereby allowing us to fully appreciate not only the rich fabric of our own country, but also the lands where we send our service members into harms way.\r\nOver sixty years ago, President Harry Truman declared, there will be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin. These words are especially relevant in todays modern world. I urge you to abide by the spirit of this message and allow all Sikh Americans to serve without giving up vital aspects of their religion.\r\nThank you for your service and for your consideration of this matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\nTim Kaine\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-urges-dod-to-rescind-policy-preventing-sikhs-from-serving-in-the-military"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.197140896692872, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}