[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REIMBURSEMENT DUE RESERVE AND GUARD MEMBERS DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF 
                         OPERATION JOINT GUARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to encourage my 
colleagues to support the Defense authorization conference report. The 
conferees have worked hard to resolve difficult issues and to reach an 
agreement.
  This agreement contains important policy language that should be 
enacted into law. However, I am also aware of a need that it does not 
address. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to cosponsor legislation, 
which I will introduce this week to correct the inequities that affect 
4,206 Army Reserve and National Guard members who were deployed to 
Europe in support of Operation Joint Guard.
  These soldiers had to take money out of their own pockets to pay for 
the shipment of personal items which the Army itself has paid for in 
the past and, after some persuasion, has started to pay again. My 
legislation grants the army the authority, the statutory authority, it 
needs to reimburse these affected soldiers who are junior grade 
enlisted members and cannot afford to pay for their reimbursement.
  In fact, it affects some 14,000 National Guardsmen throughout the 
United States. They are due to receive an average payment of $400. Not 
much to the average person, but they want their money and they need 
their money.
  They have already waited some 9 months to be reimbursed for these 
expenses. They should not have to wait any longer. They should not be 
denied reimbursement because the Army lacks the authority to pay for 
reimbursement of expenses incurred while serving this Nation.
  They should not have to wait any longer, Mr. Speaker. I therefore 
urge my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this legislation.

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