[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 107 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILIES RECOGNITION DAY

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 188) designating 
November 22, 1993, as ``National Military Families Recognition Day,'' 
and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to 
the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Kreidler] who is the chief sponsor 
of House Joint Resolution 188.
  Mr. KREIDLER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be the sponsor for a second 
year of this resolution to designate the Monday before Thanksgiving as 
``National Military Families Recognition Day.''
  Since the Senate version of this legislation was enacted last year, 
we are simply amending House Joint Resolution 188, with its 220 
cosponsors, to reflect updated statistics and the correct date of this 
year as November 21, 1994.
  This will be the sixth consecutive year that Congress has designated 
a special day to recognize and honor the mothers, fathers, husbands, 
wives, and children of our military personnel.
  Too often they are forgotten heroes of our Nation's defense, whose 
service to their country deserves our gratitude and respect.
  Many people do not understand how demanding military life can be: 
Families face the hardships of frequent moves and reassignments, long 
separations from loved ones, financial pressures, and the constant 
anxiety of an uncertain tomorrow.
  Each and every day military families make personal, professional, 
financial, and emotional sacrifices on behalf of their country.
  But there are few medals for these acts of courage and honor, only 
the unspoken rewards that come from love and family.
  I represent a district that includes Fort Lewis Army Base, McChord 
Air Force Base, and Madigan Army Hospital.
  The families stationed at these bases work hard in the midst of great 
instability to create a decent life for themselves and their children.
  Military Families Recognition Day is a day to honor the dedication 
and commitment of these families. They are people like:
  Jennifer Hutchins, who had to face most of her first pregnancy 
without her husband, Senior Airman Sheldon Hutchins, when he was 
deployed for more than 6 months in Somalia, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
  Hutchins is a member of the 62d Combat Control Squadron at McChord 
Air Force Base. While he was deployed in support of Somalia famine 
relief efforts, Jennifer was pregnant with her first child.
  Fortunately, her parents were nearby and able to help. But Jennifer 
and Sheldon missed sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
  Sharon King, whose husband, Capt. Ed King, was deployed to Somalia 
just 2 weeks after she had their second child.
  Ed is based out of the 62d Aerial Port Squadron at McChord AFB and 
was deployed to Somalia for 3 months earlier this year.
  Sharon had to care for a child and a newborn on her own, without a 
husband to share the joys and struggles.
  And the Carter family--Maj. Frederick Carter, his wife Reta, and 
their two sons Ray and Ben--who were honored as Fort Lewis' Family of 
the Year last November.
  The award, given each year as part of U.S. Army Family Week, is to 
honor a family for its teamwork and love for each other, and friendship 
and service to others.
  The Carter family had its share of difficulties when Fred was 
deployed to Iraq for 6 months during the Persian Gulf war.
  But they have always taken time to participate in their community--
both Frederick and Reta are involved with the PTA and Reta also serves 
as a social work counselor for the Salvation Army and a facilitator for 
Army Management counseling sessions.
  Mr. Speaker, during the past recent months we have celebrated 
Memorial Day and the 50th anniversary of D-day, paying our respects to 
those living and dead for their sacrifice to their country.
  We need to remember that for each of those servicemembers, there was 
a mother and father, wife or husband, sister or brother, daughter or 
son, who gave that service man or woman the support and love they 
needed to serve our Nation.
  We salute you, all the military families in America, for your 
invaluable contribution to our Nation.

                              {time}  1440

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for 
introducing this resolution and for his very moving comments. It is 
appropriate with this resolution that Congress demonstrate their 
appreciation of the commitment and devotion and sacrifice of military 
families, present and past.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House 
Joint Resolution 188, legislation designating November 22, 1993, as 
``National Military Families Recognition Day.''
  As the House of Representatives discusses this measure today, we pay 
tribute to an often forgotten group of people, the families of our 
Nation's service men and women.
  When our military personnel are called to service, we rightly praise 
their bravery and honor. However, we often forget about the family 
members who remain at home. This measure recognizes the encouragement 
and support that is provided by military family members.
  I urge my collegues to join me in supporting this important 
resolution.
  Mrs. MORELLA. I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Menendez). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:

                             H.J. Res. 188

       Whereas the Congress recognizes and supports the Department 
     of Defense policies to recruit, train, equip, retain, and 
     field a military force that is capable of preserving peace 
     and protecting the vital interests of the United States and 
     its allies;
       Whereas military families shoulder the responsibility of 
     providing emotional support for their service members;
       Whereas, in times of war and military action, military 
     families have demonstrated their patriotism through their 
     steadfast support and commitment to the Nation;
       Whereas the emotional and mental readiness of the United 
     States military personnel around the world is tied to the 
     well-being and satisfaction of their families;
       Whereas the quality of life that the Armed Forces provide 
     to military families is a key factor in the retention of 
     military personnel;
       Whereas the people of the United States are truly indebted 
     to military families for facing adversities, including 
     extended separations from their service members, frequent 
     household moves due to reassignments, and restrictions on 
     their employment and educational opportunities;
       Whereas 74 percent of officers and 55 percent of enlisted 
     personnel in the Armed Forces are married;
       Whereas families of active duty military personnel 
     (including individuals other than spouses and children) 
     account for more than half of the active duty community, and 
     spouses and children of members of the Reserves in paid 
     status account for more than half of the individuals in the 
     Reserves community;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of spouses, children, and 
     other dependents living abroad with members of the Armed 
     Forces face feelings of cultural isolation and financial 
     hardship;
       Whereas the significantly reduced global military tensions 
     after the end of the cold war have led to a down-sizing of 
     the national defense and a refocusing on national priorities 
     to strengthening the American economy and competitiveness in 
     the global marketplace;
       Whereas the Congress is grateful for such sacrifices and is 
     committed to assisting the service members and their families 
     who undergo the transition from active duty to civilian life; 
     and
       Whereas military families are devoted to the overall 
     mission of the Department of Defense and have accepted the 
     role of the United States as the military leader and 
     protector of the free world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That--
       (1) the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the 
     commitment and devotion of present and former military 
     families and the sacrifices that such families have made on 
     behalf of the Nation; and
       (2) November 22, 1993 is designated as ``National Military 
     Families Recognition Day''. The President is authorized and 
     requested to issue a proclamation calling on the people of 
     the United States to observe the day with appropriate 
     programs, ceremonies, and activities.


                    Amendment Offered by Mrs. BYRNE

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in this resolution 
to honor military families, and I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mrs. Byrne:
       Page 3, line 8, strike ``November 22, 1993'' and insert 
     ``November 21, 1994''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by 
the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne].
  The amendment was agreed to.


            amendment to the preamble offered by mrs. byrne

  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed.
  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mrs. Byrne:
       Page 2, strike ``Whereas 74 percent of officers and 55 
     percent of enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces are 
     married;'' and insert ``Whereas 75 percent of officers and 57 
     percent of enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces are 
     married;''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne].
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution was ordered to be read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed.


                 title amendment offered by mrs. byrne

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Title amendment offered by Mrs. Byrne: Amend the title by 
     striking ``November 22, 1993'' and inserting ``November 21, 
     1994''.

  The title amendment was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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