[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 169 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 169

 Recognizing the families of the members of the Armed Forces for their 
           contributions and sacrifices to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 2005

 Mr. Bishop of New York (for himself and Mr. Jones of North Carolina) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the families of the members of the Armed Forces for their 
           contributions and sacrifices to the United States.

Whereas the United States continues to rely extensively upon personnel of the 
        Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard who are deployed 
        overseas and stationed at military support installations within the 
        United States as they continue to engage in the continuing global war on 
        terror;
Whereas as of May 26, 2005, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom have claimed the lives of 1,733 members of the Armed Forces;
Whereas uniformed services personnel, regardless of branch of service or whether 
        serving in an active or a reserve component, have carried out mission 
        objectives in the continuing war on terror with valor, distinction, and 
        steadfast dedication to the cause of liberty and democracy;
Whereas there are more than 3,000,000 family members and dependents of those 
        serving on active duty and in the reserve components;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of the members of the Armed Forces, while deployed 
        away from their permanent duty stations, have left families with 
        children behind;
Whereas Guard and Reserve personnel, in addition to the strains faced by members 
        of the active components, repeatedly confront multiple burdens resulting 
        from extended tours of duty, extended pay gaps, and intricate personnel 
        systems and compliance requirements;
Whereas delayed medical status ratings, extended wait times for medical care, 
        and uncertainty in returning to civilian life and employment contribute 
        to unnecessary financial strain and stress, and even bankruptcies, of 
        the families of deployed service personnel;
Whereas military families have persevered in the face of such challenges and 
        continue to provide critically important comfort and care and numerous 
        other contributions to their loved ones deployed overseas or stationed 
        across the Nation; and
Whereas in addition to Department of Defense programs to support military 
        families, a variety of programs and campaigns have been established in 
        the private sector to honor, support, and thank military families by 
        raising awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices and the challenges 
        they face: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress--
            (1) joins the people of the United States in honoring the 
        families of members of the Armed Forces and recognizes that 
        they, too, share in the burden of protecting the Nation;
            (2) urges the people of the United States to join with the 
        military community during Memorial Day 2005 to honor, support, 
        and thank military families with appropriate ceremonies and 
        activities; and
            (3) recognizes with great appreciation the contributions 
        and sacrifices made by military families and their communities 
        as the global war on terror continues.
                                 <all>