[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, on February 15th, I was pleased to join 
Senator Thurmond in introducing a bill that would remove current 
restrictions preventing the expansion of the Junior Reserve Officers 
Training Corps, JROTC. This bill would also address the shortage of 
JROTC instructors by expanding the qualifying criteria to National 
Guard and Reserve Officers. There is nearly unanimous agreement that 
JROTC is turning today's children into tomorrow's leaders. 
Additionally, high school performance measures consistently indicate 
that JROTC cadets attend class more frequently, are responsible for 
fewer disciplinary infractions, and are more likely to graduate. 
JROTC's blend of local, State, and Federal involvement has also been a 
model for good government, and it has sponsored teamwork not just in 
its cadets but also in the agencies responsible for the program. As 
many members know, I have long been a supporter of the JROTC program, 
having secured $27 million in supplemental appropriation for JROTC in 
1999. By removing the current limitations on its expansion, we are 
enabling more students to participate in what has proven to be an 
exemplary program. The legislation would remove the congressionally-
mandated ceiling of 3,500 JROTC units. It would also allow the Marine 
Corps to continue to expand their program which had previously been 
capped at 210 units. All together the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine 
Corps have more than 2,700 school units totaling over 425,000 cadets, 
with hundreds of schools nationwide on waiting lists for a JROTC 
program. JROTC has carried bipartisan support since Congress 
established it in 1926.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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