Lawmakers To Repeal Hiv Military Discharge

Congressional negotiators agreed Wednesday to repeal the new law requiring the discharge of military service members with the AIDS virus.

As they wrapped up final negotiations on a major federal budget bill, House and Senate leaders agreed to repeal the law, which was sponsored by conservative Rep. Robert Dornan, R-Calif. It would have forced 1,049 service members who have tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to involuntarily retire from the military.

An angry Dornan said he would refile the bill today when a House National Security personnel subcommittee that he chairs was to prepare its portion of the 1997 defense budget.