[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
        Leahy, Mr. DeWine, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
        Smith, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Reid, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
        Kerry, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Lieberman, 
        Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Johnson, 
        Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Mikulski, and Mr. 
        Nelson of Nebraska):
  S. 2035. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the 
age and service requirements for eligibility to receive retired pay for 
non-regular service; to expand certain authorities to provide health 
care benefits for Reserves and their families, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
cosponsoring the National Guard and Reserves Reform Act for the 21st 
Century.
  I am proud of Oregon's citizen-soldiers, and I firmly believe we need 
the Guard and Reserves more today than we have in decades. Forces of 
the United States National Guard and Reserves make essential and 
effective contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom and other ongoing 
military operations. Oregon units have been on the vanguard of these 
operations.
  While our dependence on the reserves has increased, their basic pay 
and benefits structure remained largely unchanged until last year. 
Through a strong bipartisan effort Congress passed a bill to extend 
TRICARE benefits to National Guard and Reservists. We need to assure 
our military that as we continue to support their readiness 
capabilities, we remember the personal well-being of Oregonians in 
uniform as well as that of their families.
  This bill will improve the medical readiness of our Reserve and Guard 
forces, increase recruiting and retention, and offer faster and less 
cumbersome mobilizations. Healthier citizen-soldiers make our military 
more effective. As we continue the war on terror, we need a healthy and 
motivated fighting force. This legislation will work toward that end.
  The Guard and Reserves in my State have selflessly responded to the 
call of our country, and we cannot forget that part-time soldiers have 
full-time health needs. In order to ensure our citizen-soldiers are 
healthy when they are needed, I urge my Congressional colleagues to 
pass this bill to continue health care coverage to our Reservists and 
Guardsmen.

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