[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7368-H7370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING AND HONORING MILITARY UNIT FAMILY SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS

  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 486) recognizing and honoring 
military unit family support volunteers for their dedicated service to 
the United States, the Armed Forces, and members of the Armed Forces 
and their families.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 486

       Whereas members of the Armed Forces and their families make 
     significant sacrifices on behalf of the United States;
       Whereas the military necessity of long deployments, 
     frequent relocations, and infrequent family contact for 
     members of the Armed Forces can be extremely challenging for 
     members and their families;
       Whereas, in response to these sacrifices and challenges, 
     military unit family support volunteers from each branch of 
     the Armed Forces have stepped forward to provide members of 
     the Armed Forces and their families critical support while 
     members are deployed;
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers consist of 
     the Army Family Readiness Volunteers, Navy Ombudsmen, Air

[[Page H7369]]

     Force Spouses Together and Ready volunteers (STARs), and 
     Marine Key Volunteers (KVs);
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers are 
     generally spouses of members of the Armed Forces, and they 
     provide assistance to military families while also enduring 
     the challenges of military life;
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers are 
     motivated by the desire to improve the lives of other 
     military families and to assist future generations;
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers serve as 
     liaisons between military commands and families, often 
     serving as information conduits between the two groups;
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers also 
     connect the community with military families and local 
     military installations, often leveraging donations and 
     resources to the advantage of the military families; and
       Whereas military unit family support volunteers provide 
     their services on a voluntary basis, with little public 
     recognition and no financial assistance, and often contribute 
     their own resources to help other military families: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes and honors the military 
     unit family support volunteers of each branch of the Armed 
     Forces who selflessly devote their time, talent, and energy 
     in service to the United States and commends military unit 
     family support volunteers for their dedicated contributions 
     to the Armed Forces and the quality of life of members of the 
     Armed Forces and their families.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 486.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
486. This resolution recognizes and honors the men and women behind the 
unparalleled support structure that serves the families of our service 
members.
  The men and women of the United States Armed Forces face a great 
challenge each day. We ask our active duty service members and citizen 
soldiers to provide safety and security at times when these words seem 
little more than lofty ideals.
  We also ask a great deal of the families of these young men and 
women. For each of the 1.4 million active duty service members and the 
875,000 citizen soldiers who have served our Nation since September 11, 
2001, someone has been left behind to balance the demands of providing 
emotional and moral support to their loved ones in the field while 
maintaining their own spirits and carrying on with their everyday 
lives. These friends and family members make it possible for our armed 
service members to carry out their work. But who supports them in their 
important mission?
  Fortunately, military family support volunteers take it upon 
themselves to do just that. These brave volunteers help shoulder the 
burden of our military families. They provide a source of strength for 
the families who stay behind while their loved ones serve far away.
  Family support volunteers offer this assistance freely, without 
asking for pay or recognition. Often the spouses of long-serving 
members of our Armed Forces, these individuals are motivated by the 
desire to share their wisdom with families who are new to these trials. 
Because they have also experienced the anxiety that comes with 
deployment, they understand better than anyone the struggles that come 
in times of war.
  As a young officer, my family and I benefited from these volunteers. 
As a senior officer, when I was commanding thousands of Marines and 
sailors far off in Somalia, I was reassured and they were reassured to 
know that our families back home were being supported by such 
volunteers. Now, as a Member of Congress, it is my great honor to join 
my colleagues in providing the recognition the military unit family 
support volunteers deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H. Con. 
Res. 486.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 486. 
This resolution recognizes and honors the selfless service of America's 
military unit family support volunteers, who provide such dedicated 
support to the members of our Armed Forces and their families.
  We are all aware of the tremendous sacrifices our service members 
make in the defense of the United States. Since September 11, 2001, our 
1.4 million active duty service members and 875,000 citizen soldiers, 
the National Guardsmen and Reservists, have served our Nation honorably 
in the war on terrorism. Many have served in extremely dangerous 
conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their bravery and sacrifice are an 
honor to our Nation.
  But we must not forget the sacrifices of those whom they leave behind 
at home. As the poet John Milton said, ``Those also serve who only 
stand and wait.''
  The months of separation that military families endure can be filled 
with anxiety, loneliness and hardship. But life goes on for America's 
military spouses and their families while their loved ones serve 
overseas. There are doctors appointments, anniversaries, home repairs, 
holidays, financial problems, graduation, car troubles, birthdays, and 
in some cases, births. All those joys and trials of life that are 
shared by a family can become somber days and monumental tasks when 
one's partner or parent is missing.
  In my congressional district, I am honored by the opportunity to work 
with many Navy ombudsmen and Marine Key Volunteers, or KVs, as they are 
called. That is why I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 486, 
because I am constantly amazed by the stories they share with me.
  I met one Marine spouse who was facing incredibly difficult 
circumstances after her husband was deployed to Iraq in June, leaving 
her with the responsibility of caring for her two sons on her own. In 
addition to the stress involved with caring for her family, she must 
also deal with the anxiety that comes when you know your loved one is 
in harm's way.
  Her husband is fighting the insurgency in some of the most dangerous 
areas of Iraq. In the notes he writes to her, he describes what it is 
like to be on the front lines and what it is like to come under fire 
from insurgents.
  Fortunately, this brave young woman was assigned a Key Volunteer who 
cares deeply and who can relate to her. Her KV speaks to her every day 
to provide comfort and guidance and to offer any other help that she 
can provide.
  Just before the war in Iraq got under way, I heard from a Navy spouse 
who was 4 months pregnant and her husband was deployed for a 6-month 
tour. She was new to San Diego and had no family and few friends in the 
area. She would have to face the remainder of her pregnancy without her 
husband being there and give birth without him by her side.
  However, she was assigned a Navy ombudsman, who went to great length 
to help her. The dedicated ombudsman contacted her several times to 
provide moral support and to offer assistance. She also made herself 
available 24 hours a day in case this young wife needed medical 
treatment, guidance or just a friend.
  In every unit of our great military, groups of these volunteers 
gather to help support each other when their husbands and their wives 
deploy. This powerful network of volunteers that makes up the family 
support group starts out as a collection of spouses who are thrown 
together by circumstance and grows into a network of friends and 
extended family.

                              {time}  1530

  This family comes together to shoulder the burden and to share the 
joys for those coping with the absence of their loved ones.
  No one can understand the anxiety and the hardship that deployment 
brings better than these family support group volunteers, because they 
too have experienced these hardships. In

[[Page H7370]]

many cases, family support volunteers are in the same position as those 
they seek to help. Their spouses are also deployed into harm's way, and 
I know that many of them have gotten involved as ombudsman persons 
because of some of the trauma that they experienced.
  Madam Speaker, I cannot tell my colleagues how deeply honored I am 
today for the opportunity to recognize America's family support 
volunteers. These brave men and women give selflessly of themselves for 
no pay and no recognition, and they often contribute their own 
resources to those in need. They do it for their loved ones. They do it 
for their community, and they do it for their nation.
  Our service members need these dedicated volunteers to help keep the 
home fires burning so that they can focus on the task of fighting the 
global war on terror, a task that is more difficult if they are worried 
about their families back home. Knowing their families have the full 
support of a dedicated volunteer helps to ease their fears and 
concerns.
  I commend these volunteers who so selflessly serve our armed forces 
and our Nation. The support they give to our military families is truly 
invaluable, and our country owes them a large debt of gratitude.
  Madam Speaker, I see that there are no further speakers. I am 
delighted to present this. I look forward to presenting it to the 
ombudspeople and the key volunteers in the San Diego region, and I know 
that they will be pleased with this recognition from the United States 
Congress.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
only to thank the gentlewoman from California for introducing the 
resolution. This important resolution is long overdue in order that we 
recognize the wonderful members of the military family support 
volunteers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
486.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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