[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 84 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 84

 Recognizing the sacrifices made by members of the regular and reserve 
 components of the Armed Forces, expressing concern about their safety 
  and security, and urging the Secretary of Defense to take immediate 
steps to ensure that the reserve components are provided with the same 
                  equipment as the regular components.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 21, 2003

    Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Kerry) submitted the following concurrent 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the sacrifices made by members of the regular and reserve 
 components of the Armed Forces, expressing concern about their safety 
  and security, and urging the Secretary of Defense to take immediate 
steps to ensure that the reserve components are provided with the same 
                  equipment as the regular components.

Whereas, on September 11, 2001, the National Guard and Reserve responded to the 
        horrific terrorist attacks on the United States with professionalism and 
        courage, rescued the injured, saved lives in New York City, provided 
        protection to the Pentagon, and flew combat air patrols over Washington, 
        D.C., and other major cities;
Whereas, on September 14, 2001, in Executive Order 13223, President Bush 
        proclaimed a national emergency, and exercised his authority under 
        section 12302 of title 10, United States Code, to allow him to call up 
        as many as 1,000,000 National Guard and Reserve members to active duty 
        for up to two years;
Whereas more than 300,000 National Guard and Reserve members have been called to 
        active duty under this Executive Order, serving on the front lines by 
        fighting terrorists in Africa and Asia and keeping the peace in 
        Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Iraq;
Whereas the National Guard and Reserve are taking on unprecedented challenges;
Whereas 64 percent of National Guard and Reserve members have been called up for 
        active duty during at least one of the seven major mobilizations since 
        1990;
Whereas 7,800 National Guard and Reserve members have been mobilized more than 
        once to serve in the Global War on Terrorism, and members serve between 
        60 and 120 days per year;
Whereas 42,000 of the approximately 160,000 United States troops currently in 
        Iraq are members of the National Guard and Reserve;
Whereas the National Guard and Reserve are being deployed to Iraq without 
        critical protective equipment, such as body armor, carbines, laser 
        sights, night vision goggles, desert boots, Camel Back water carriers, 
        aviation holsters, aviation protective masks, radios, and desert 
        camouflage uniforms;
Whereas many National Guard and Reserve units are using older and outdated 
        equipment;
Whereas, due to equipment shortages throughout the National Guard and Reserve, 
        units are being stripped of equipment in favor of units being deployed, 
        leaving other units without equipment with which to train;
Whereas at least one National Guard and Reserve unit asked hospitals in the 
        United States to donate medical supplies to cover its shortages; and
Whereas a poll taken in Iraq by Stars & Stripes reveals that 48 percent of 
        National Guard and Reserve troops consider their morale ``low'' or 
        ``very low'', compared with only 15 percent reporting ``high'' or ``very 
        high'' morale: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the sacrifices made by the members in the 
        regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces;
            (2) expresses concern about their safety and security; and
            (3) urges the Secretary of Defense to take immediate steps 
        to ensure that the National Guard and Reserves are provided 
        with the same equipment as the regular components.
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