[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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