[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SAFEGUARDING SCHOOLCHILDREN OF DEPLOYED SOLDIERS ACT

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                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2004

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction 
of the Safeguarding Schoolchildren of Deployed Soldiers Act of 2004.
  Today there are 129,000 United States troops serving in Iraq alone, 
including nearly 80,000 reservists and members of the National Guard. 
As the Congressional Representative for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve 
Station, I recognize the enormous disruption of deployment on their 
families.
  When soldiers are deployed, many arrangements must be made. Many men 
and women are leaving a job, a family, or even children behind.
  We have long recognized the need to minimize the hardships to these 
men and women, as demonstrated in the comprehensive Servicemember's 
Civil Relief Act. Originally enacted in 1940, this law provides relief 
to military personnel from many of the economic and legal burdens they 
have incurred because of their deployments. This law never anticipated 
lengthy deployments by mothers and fathers who may not have any choice 
but to send their children to live with another parent, sister, or 
grandfather one or two towns away.
  I learned firsthand how deployments can cause significant upheaval in 
a child's life when the brother of a deployed soldier recently 
contacted my office. He explained that his niece had moved to live with 
her mother while her father was away fighting in Iraq. As a result, she 
was prevented from attending her normal high school because she no 
longer resided within the school district.
  According to the Department of Defense, there are currently 1.2 
million children with military parents in the United States. This 
number is only slightly less than the total number of adults currently 
serving in the Armed Forces.
  I am proud to introduce, along with my colleague Representative 
Brown-Waite, the Safeguarding Schoolchildren of Deployed Soldiers Act. 
This bipartisan legislation would ensure some measure of continuity for 
children who change residence as a result of their parent's military 
service by allowing them to continue to receive an education at their 
schools, even if they are temporarily residing outside the school 
district.
  As our men and women in uniform continue to be deployed in support of 
military operations around the world, it is vital that we do our best 
to minimize the disturbance to their lives and that of their families.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Safeguarding 
Schoolchildren of Deployed Soldiers Act. We owe this protection to the 
education of our children and to the peace of mind of our soldiers.

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