The featured programs for the News Conference - Minorities & Equal Opportunity type. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/browse?browse=format&id=40 en-US Copyright 2013, National Cable Satellite Corporation info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 21 May 2013 14:47:24 GMT News Conference - Minorities & Equal Opportunity Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey held a press briefing. Secretary Panetta began by calling on Congress to abide by the Budget Control Act of 2011 rather than passing the House Republican budget reconciliation bill. He warned that if Congress reverses the "tough decisions" the Defense Department has already made in its proposed budget, they risk potential gridlock and "could force the kind of trade-offs that could jeopardize our national defense." Other topics included President Obama's announced support of same-sex marriage, and the nomination of General Mark Welsh to replace retiring Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/305949-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/305949-1 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Admiral Mike Mullen spoke to reporters about the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gays in the military, which ended on September 20. The ban was first put in placed in 1993, and lifting the policy was a campaign promise from President Obama. Other topics at the briefing included the Defense Department budget and the drawdown of troops from Iraq. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/301654-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/301654-1 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Defense Department announced that it is ready to stop enforcing its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military. That message goes to President Obama, who will then formally notify Congress. The policy officially ends 60 days after that notification. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/300666-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/300666-1 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT