[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1288-S1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Reid):
  S. 2068. A bill to enhance and improve benefits for members of the 
National Guard and Reserves who serve extended periods on active duty, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise this evening to introduce a very 
important piece of legislation that will support hundreds of thousands 
of Americans who are making great sacrifices for our country. This bill 
will enhance the benefits that are offered to the brave men and women 
of the National Guard and Reserves and their families when they are 
called to service.
  The latest figures from the Pentagon show that more than 194,000 
Guard and Reserves are currently serving on active duty. We have come 
to rely greatly on our Guard and Reserve Forces for extended durations. 
It is now time that we provide them with the support that is available 
to our regular services.
  Nationwide, we are experiencing the largest activation of Guard and 
Reserves since the Korean war. In my home State this is the largest 
activation of these brave men and women since World War II.
  Guard and Reserves make up almost 40 percent of the total U.S. force 
in Iraq. They play a critical role in our operations in Afghanistan, 
and they support a tremendous number of our homeland security missions.
  The Guard's 81st Armor Brigade is sending 3,600 brave Washington 
State citizens to Iraq in the next few weeks. I had the pleasure of 
meeting with many of these soldiers and their families in early 
January. During my visit with these soldiers, I heard many concerns 
about the well-being of their families who are going to be left to 
shoulder tremendous responsibilities while they are away. Many were 
concerned that they would leave before they could help their spouse 
find affordable child care. Others were concerned that their children 
would have to go to a new doctor who accepts TRICARE, and that type of 
change when one parent is overseas and far away can be very scary for a 
young child.
  My visit with the families offered a window into what they are facing 
as their loved ones serve on extended deployments. Their families were 
concerned about the loss of income between their spouse's civilian 
salary and their active-duty salary.
  Some of our activated soldiers were in school. Their families were 
concerned that they would have to begin repaying student loans while 
their loved ones served in Iraq.
  It is vital that Congress take steps to ensure all members of our 
Armed Forces and their families are taken care of, especially during 
extended active-duty deployments and upon their return home. 
Unfortunately, that has not always been the case. Veterans who 
volunteered or were drafted to serve our country were promised health 
care and other benefits. When they returned home they found those 
promises were not kept. In recent years, the administration has barred 
certain veterans from enrolling in the VA. The President's budget 
request for this year would require some veterans to pay additional 
fees for the services they are currently able to receive.
  This evening, I am introducing a comprehensive piece of legislation 
that will minimize the challenges at home when members of the Guard and 
Reserve leave their jobs, their schools, their homes, and their 
families to protect our homeland and fight terrorism. This legislation 
helps families by extending the Family and Medical Leave Act to allow 
spouses to take time away from their job to put together a single-
parent household and prepare for their transition.

  My bill will help Guard and Reserve families with children by 
providing access to child care, especially during times of extended 
active duty. This provision would allow nonworking spouses with 
children to work while their spouse is being deployed, making child 
care more affordable.
  Education is a key part of this proposal. I have heard from Guard 
members who are worried that they had to leave their university to go 
to Iraq for a year. We have to ensure that when they return to school 
it will be without penalty, and that their student loans are deferred 
during their extended deployment.
  Several soldiers who work in the high-tech field said to me:

       Eighteen months away from my job in the high tech field 
     means that I will not be ready to go back into my position 
     when I return.

  That is why my bill will extend and update the GI Bill benefits for 
Guard and Reserve to keep better pace with the rising costs of 
education. This will encourage education and provide a competitive edge 
for Guard and Reserves when they return home to the private sector.
  My proposal will improve health care coverage by providing access to 
TRICARE for all members of the Guard and Reserves and their families, 
regardless of employment or insurance status. TRICARE only works if you 
are in a community that has TRICARE available. Guard and Reserves who 
are mobilized for extended periods need the option to maintain their 
private health care plans. So my proposal provides that option and 
covers their premiums during periods of extended deployment.
  Many members of the Guard and Reserves who are mobilized are seeing a 
huge decrease in their pay while they serve our country on active duty. 
My proposal ensures pay equity for Federal employees called to duty and 
provides tax credits to employers to encourage their support of 
activated Guard and Reserves.
  My proposal also reduces the age for Guard and Reserves to receive 
retirement pay to age 55.
  I am very concerned that we are burning up our Guard and Reserve 
units by placing a serious strain on their families and their finances. 
These brave men and women need the same kind of support that our 
regular services have when they are called away from their families and 
their jobs for extended deployments. By addressing these shortfalls 
now, we give the Guard and Reserves a valuable tool for recruiting and 
retaining the best and the brightest soldiers in the world.
  This bill tells our Guard and Reserve members that they can serve our 
country overseas, even on long deployments, and know that their 
families will be financially secure and able to get child care and 
health care. Spouses can take time off from work to prepare for a long 
deployment. In addition, Guard members won't lose their place at a 
university, and they won't be charged interest or have to repay loans 
until they resume their studies.
  I hope we can pass this bill and do everything we can to lessen the 
burden

[[Page S1289]]

on Americans who are already sacrificing so much for our security. We 
are asking so much of our Guard and Reserve members and their families. 
We have an obligation to make it easier for their spouses and children 
during these extended long deployments.
  I hope my colleagues will support this legislation and help us move 
it quickly through the Senate.
  I yield the floor.
                                 ______