[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1371-E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 2004

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I returned from my fifth trip 
to Iraq since the President declared an end to major combat operations 
last May. I was able to visit with our brave men and women in uniform, 
many of whom still endure daily rocket strikes. Their resolve and 
ability to maintain good spirits in the harshest of environments is a 
testament to the caliber of our armed forces and their dedication to 
their jobs.
  Last week I learned of the death Lance Corporal Michael Torres, a 
young man from my district who was killed by enemy fire in Fallujah. A 
high school scholar, athlete, and young Texas State Guardsman, Lance 
Corporal Torres joined the Marine Corps to serve his country and his 
fellow Americans. His pride for our Nation and his willingness to serve 
is an inspiration for El Paso and our country.
  Yesterday, along with my colleagues Solomon Ortiz and Grace 
Napolitano, I joined Congressman Lane Evans in touring the Rock Island 
Arsenal, located in his district. Congressman Evans invited us to visit 
this premier facility of which he is so proud and to which he offers 
much support. At Rock Island, we were able to see armor kits being made 
for Humvees, and talk with the employees who have been tirelessly 
working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to produce armor kits for our 
Humvees that are in theater in Iraq. Having seen some of these armor 
kits being installed in Kuwait, and having talked to soldiers both 
installing the kits and receiving armored vehicles, I wanted to pass on 
their gratitude to the workers.

[[Page E1372]]

  When our men and women in uniform initially crossed the burm in Iraq, 
fewer than 40 percent of their vehicles were armored. Today, thanks to 
the hard work of the men and women like those at Rock Island Arsenal, 
we are well on our way to having every vehicle armored. Since December 
19th of last year, Rock Island has produced more than 2,500 full armor 
kits for Humvees that were sent to Iraq--many of which were installed 
in theater by the very men and women who built the armor. Our Nation 
owes great thanks to the men and women of Rock Island Arsenal. Their 
hard work and dedication is giving soldiers protection and enabling 
them to return home to their families.
  While I am pleased that we are on our way to successfully armoring 
our vehicles, it does not make up for the fact that many, many men and 
women in uniform died when they could have been protected by properly 
armored vehicles. I am pleased that the House Armed Services Committee 
has been able to work in a bipartisan manner to give our soldiers and 
marines in theater better force protection measures, but this should 
not have had to happen after our soldiers were already in theater. When 
we use our forces, we need to ensure that they have adequate equipment, 
the best information and technology, and the best training possible.
  Our men and women in uniform, like Lance Corporal Torres was, are 
among the best and the brightest that our Nation has to offer. They are 
our sons and daughters, our fathers and mothers, our friends and 
neighbors. As a veteran and as a proud American, I pledge to offer my 
continued support to ensure that our men and women in uniform have what 
they need to do their jobs and return home safely.

                          ____________________