[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2494-H2495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VALUABLE MILITARY CHAPLAINS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 20, 2004, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, there are rumors that were
coming out of the Pentagon, rumors that I believe are extremely
troubling. Outsourcing our military chaplains is a very bad idea.
[[Page H2495]]
This is not a new organization, Mr. Speaker. The Navy Chaplain Corps
traces its inception to the Second Article of Navy Regulations adopted
on November 28 of 1775 by the Continental Congress. This event occurred
prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
1776, or the Constitution of September 17, 1787.
From the outset of the Continental Navy, due consideration was given
to divine services and the placement of chaplains aboard ships. This
Act provided a place for religion and chaplains in the Navy.
Additionally, the United States Army Chaplaincy was officially
created by an act of the Continental Congress in July of 1775 upon the
urgent request of General George Washington.
Mr. Speaker, the reason I wanted to come to the floor is because
these rumors at the Pentagon I hope are nothing more than rumors
because I cannot think of anything more important to a man or woman in
uniform, whether they be young or old, than to have a chaplain that
they feel very close to. And our chaplains wear the uniform. Our
chaplains wear the helmet when they are in combat situations.
I would share with you, Mr. Speaker, just two paragraphs of a letter
I wrote to Secretary Rumsfeld on April 28, 2004.
``Dear Mr. Secretary, I write to you today to urge you in the
strongest of terms to reconsideration your decision to consider
outsourcing our military chaplains.
{time} 1245
``The service that they provide, not just to soldiers, airmen,
sailors and Marines, but also their families here at home and overseas,
are irreplaceable.''
I also would like to share with you the last paragraph that I wrote
to the Secretary: ``One of their most valuable qualities is that they
are trained by the individual service that they represent. These men
and women are more than just priests, reverends, or rabbis. They are
also soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. How can you possibly
justify selecting a civilian with absolutely no military experience to
advise our troops in the field? Replacing the uniformed chaplain would
be a crucial mistake. I hope you will consider these facts before you
reach your final decision.''
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell my colleagues that those of us on
the Committee on Armed Services, both Republican and Democrat, we are
very concerned about this. We have talked to the leadership of the
Committee on Armed Services, our subcommittee chairmen, as well as our
ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton); and also the
chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), and I believe
that we will come together as Republicans and Democrats in the
Committee on Armed Services, as well as here on the House floor, to
discourage and to deny the decisions, should one be forthcoming from
the Department of Defense, to outsource our chaplains. It is just
absolutely unacceptable.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will insert the entirety of this letter to
Secretary Rumsfeld for the Record at this point.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, April 28, 2004.
Hon. Donald Rumsfeld,
Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I write to you today to urge you in the
strongest terms to reconsider your decision to consider
outsourcing our military chaplains. The service they provide
not just the Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines but also
their families here at home and overseas is irreplaceable.
The work of the military chaplain is multi-faceted in that
they serve the troops in the field but equally as important,
their wives and families supporting them on the home front.
The military chaplain, regardless of service shares a common
bond with their fellow soldier in the field, regardless of
their religion, they are brothers-in-arms.
This work is not new either. For example, The Navy Chaplain
Corps traces its inception to the Second Article of Navy
Regulations adopted on November 28, 1775 by the Continental
Congress. This event occurred prior to the signing of the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, or the
Constitution on September 17, 1787. From the outset of the
Continental Navy, due consideration was given to divine
services and the placement of chaplains aboard ships. This
act provided a place for religion and chaplains in the Navy.
Additionally, the United States Army Chaplaincy was
officially created by an act of the Continental Congress in
July of 1775 upon the urgent request of General George
Washington.
I would like to share with you part of a personal account
that I recently received from a chaplain serving in Iraq:
``Twice a day I go to the `Cave' . . . the combat operations
center, which is housed in a former palace, poorly lit and
the hub of fighting the battle. I stand in the corner and
pray for each person/position and those they represent. I
don't know many of them, but God does. I pray for wisdom,
strength, mercy, endurance and God's presence for each
warrior, all those they serve or represent. I cover the Cave
and the battlefield as I look at live imagery projected on
the wall. I don't know how the Marines do it . . . but the
COC is loaded with strake-looking Marines. The senior NCO's
all look like NFL lineman. The junior officers look like
marathon runners and the mid-grade officers look like NFL
halfbacks . . . the senior officers are lean, tanned and
serious . . . deadly serious. The place exudes the warrior
spirit. If you are a civilian I can't explain it and won't
apologize for it. If you are a veteran you don't need to have
it explained . . . the warrior spirit.''
Mr. Secretary, you must understand, these chaplains provide
so much more than spiritual guidance. They are counselors and
confidantes to those who have witnessed first-hand the
horrors of war. This service does not stop at the warfront;
their fellow chaplains are providing the exact same service
to those who mourn the recent loss of a loved one in this
conflict. You need to understand the severity of this
decision, their presence in the field, on ships and on base
are necessities.
One of their most valuable qualities is that they are
trained by the individual service that they represent. These
men and women are more than just Priests, Reverends or
Rabbis, they are also Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines,
how can you possibly justify selecting a civilian with
absolutely no military experience to advise our troops in the
field? Replacing the uniformed chaplain would be a crucial
mistake, I hope you will consider these facts before you
reach your final decision.
Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing
your decision on this matter.
Sincerely,
Walter B. Jones,
Member of Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I close this way because all of us in the House know
that we have men and women overseas serving this great Nation in
Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world who have given their
lives for this country.
I close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform
and their families. I ask God in His loving arms to hold the families
who have given precious children dying for freedom. I ask God to please
bless the House and Senate. I ask the good Lord three times, please
God, please God, please God, continue to bless and save America.
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