[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 44 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 44

 Recognizing the service, sacrifice, honor, and professionalism of the 
          Noncommissioned Officers of the United States Army.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 2009

   Mr. Skelton (for himself, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Davis of 
 California, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Reyes, Mr. 
  Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Shuster, Mr. 
  Bishop of Utah, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Larsen of 
  Washington, Mr. Ortiz, Ms. Giffords, Mr. Courtney, Mr. McKeon, Mr. 
 Spratt, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. 
    Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. 
 Ellsworth, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. Bartlett, Ms. Loretta Sanchez 
    of California, and Ms. Tsongas) introduced the following joint 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the service, sacrifice, honor, and professionalism of the 
          Noncommissioned Officers of the United States Army.

Whereas the Noncommissioned Officer ranks, namely corporals and sergeants, date 
        back more than 230 years in United States Army history, beginning with 
        the birth of the Continental Army in 1775 and highlighted in the 
        westward expansion of the United States, the Civil War, World War I, 
        World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the liberation 
        of Kuwait, and the current Global War on Terror;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are accomplished military professionals who 
        have combined civilian and military education opportunities to become 
        the Army's preeminent body of leadership;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ``backbone of the American Army'' and 
        are the standard keepers for the Army in the training, leading, 
        coaching, and mentoring of soldiers;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers have provided invaluable service and have made 
        great sacrifices in the line of duty, a virtue held most high, and they 
        have continually proven their dedication and a willingness to make great 
        sacrifices on behalf of the United States;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers recognize their role in training young soldiers 
        to become future leaders, and they also recognize that an important part 
        of their job is caring and looking out for the welfare of junior 
        enlisted members and their families;
Whereas Noncommissioned Officers are the ``eyes and ears'' of the commander, and 
        have a well-earned reputation for having operational and strategic 
        awareness to interpret and issue orders as necessary within their duties 
        and in the absence of commissioned officers; and
Whereas the United States Army is an institution rich in cultural, ethnic, and 
        gender diversity, and Noncommissioned Officers are outstanding role 
        models for all Americans and are exemplary representatives of the moral 
        character and strength of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the service, sacrifice, honor, and 
        professionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the United 
        States Army;
            (2) expresses its deepest appreciation to the 
        Noncommissioned Officers of the Army who serve or have served 
        in defense of the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to 
        recognize, commemorate, and honor the role and contribution of 
        Noncommissioned Officers, past and present, in defense of the 
        United States.
                                 <all>