[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     REIMBURSING MEMBERS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FOR CERTAIN 
                        TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 30, 2004

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
Senate bill 2057, a bill to reimburse members of the Armed Forces for 
certain travel expenses incurred while on leave before the Central 
Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program was expanded to include 
domestic travel.
  This bill, which recently passed the Senate, directs the Secretary of 
Defense to reimburse members of the Armed Forces for transportation 
expenses for up to one domestic round trip that was taken between 
September 25 and December 18, 2003.
  Mr. Speaker, the past few years have been a difficult and strenuous 
time for the brave and dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces. Our 
soldiers are tasked in missions across the globe, from Iraq and 
Afghanistan to South Korea and the Philippines. Many of these missions 
involve combat or other extreme hardships.
  In addition to being kept apart for months at a time, military 
families have to cope with rising health care costs and uncertainties 
about the future. Deployment orders for reservists and the National 
Guard are increasing, and stop-loss measures have been put in place for 
enlisted personnel who thought they were on the verge of going home. 
Tens of thousands of military families lack adequate housing and 
affordable medical care, and Democratic efforts to increase family 
separation and danger pay have been defeated by Republicans in this 
body.
  Each deployment period, soldiers only receive a brief period of leave 
to reunite with their families and enjoy respite from the hazards of 
serving abroad. That soldiers, in some instances, should have had to 
pay for their own transportation costs while on leave is most 
unfortunate.
  Mr. Speaker, it is reasonable for Congress to demonstrate its 
gratitude to the men and women of the Armed Forces by ensuring that 
they do not have to pay out of pocket for travel expenses incurred 
while transitioning from the difficulties of deployment to the 
welcoming arms of their families at home.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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