[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4079-H4080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 334) supporting the goals and 
objectives of a National Military Appreciation Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 334

       Whereas the vigilance of the members of the Armed Forces 
     has been instrumental to the preservation of the freedom, 
     security, and prosperity enjoyed by the people of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the success of the Armed Forces depends on the 
     dedicated service of its members, their families, and the 
     civilian employees of the Department of Defense and the Coast 
     Guard;
       Whereas the role of the United States as a world leader 
     requires a military force that is well-trained, well-
     equipped, and appropriately sized;
       Whereas the Federal Government has a responsibility to 
     raise awareness of and respect for this aspect of the 
     heritage of the United States and to encourage the people of 
     the United States to dedicate themselves to the values and 
     principles for which Americans have served and sacrificed 
     throughout the history of the Nation;
       Whereas service in the Armed Forces entails special hazards 
     and demands extraordinary sacrifices from service members and 
     their families;
       Whereas the support of the families of service members 
     enhances the effectiveness and capabilities of the Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas the observance of events recognizing the 
     contributions of the Armed Forces is a tangible and highly 
     effective way of sustaining morale and improving quality of 
     life for service members and their families;
       Whereas on April 30, 1999, the Senate passed S. Res. 33 
     (106th Congress), entitled ``Designating May 1999 as 
     `National Military Appreciation Month' '', calling on the 
     people of the United States, in a symbolic act of unity, to 
     observe a National Military Appreciation Month in May 1999, 
     to honor the current and former members of the Armed Forces, 
     including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and 
     peace;
       Whereas on March 24, 2004, the House of Representatives 
     passed H. Con. Res. 328 (108th Congress), entitled 
     ``Recognizing and honoring the United States Armed Forces and 
     supporting the goals and objectives of a National Military 
     Appreciation Month,'' and on April 26, 2004, the Senate 
     passed H. Con. Res. 328 by unanimous consent; and
       Whereas it is important to emphasize to the people of the 
     United States the relevance of the history and activities of 
     the Armed Forces through an annual National Military 
     Appreciation Month that includes associated local and 
     national observances and activities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and objectives of a National 
     Military Appreciation Month; and

[[Page H4080]]

       (2) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States, all Federal departments and 
     agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to 
     annually observe a National Military Appreciation Month with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Representing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
I rise to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Con. Res. 334, 
as amended, a resolution supporting the goals and objectives of 
National Military Appreciation Month, which, for the past 10 years, has 
been recognized in the month of May.
  Initially created by an act of Congress back in 1999, the National 
Military Appreciation Month provides each and every one of us an 
opportunity to acknowledge and honor the heroic men and women who have 
served and are now serving in our country's Armed Forces.
  The bill before us was introduced on April 24, 2008, by Congressman 
Christopher Shays of Connecticut. And while cosponsored by only 60 
Members of Congress, I am sure that each and every member of this body 
stands in support and admiration of the thousands of men and women 
serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
  The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform amended and reported 
the bill favorably by voice vote on May 15, 2008, and today we now have 
a chance to move the bill one step closer to enactment.
  Mr. Speaker, let us join with citizens across America in showing our 
appreciation for the service and sacrifice these brave men and women 
display in order to provide for the defense and the protection of our 
great country. In particular, let us show our gratitude to those 
currently serving abroad in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other pockets of the 
world, and to the families that stand by and support their loved ones 
during deployment in times of war.
  The passage of H. Con. Res. 334 will send a strong message to our 
troops and veterans that we honor, respect, and appreciate their 
dedication to the liberties and freedoms we as Americans hold so dear.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the goals and the 
objectives of National Military Appreciation Month by voting in favor 
of H. Con. Res. 334.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important 
resolution, and yield myself such time that I may consume.
  This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Military 
Appreciation Month, which was first passed on May 1999. I might note 
that in May 1999, perhaps the reason for the Congress seeing fit to 
have a National Appreciation Month for our military was that in fact we 
were in a time of comparative peace. We were at a time in which we 
wanted to let our military know that we appreciated them standing guard 
in peacetime as well as in war.
  For the last 7 years, though, we have been at war. Our troops have 
been deployed in Afghanistan since shortly after the September 11 
attack on our Nation. In fact, this last weekend, as part of the 
Military Appreciation Month, I was in Oceanside in my own district 
where 44,000 Marines reside at Camp Pendleton. Except they don't get to 
reside at Camp Pendleton; they are on their third and fourth 
deployments throughout that region.
  I didn't just thank the senior NCOs and the officers, who I 
appreciate their continued service because they have stayed in and 
reenlisted during this time of war, but I also thanked the incredible 
amount of young men and women and their families who showed up and who 
in fact joined after this war began, and many of them after this war 
had been going for many, many years.
  It is in fact our military that is with us in good times and bad. 
They stay with us in the worst of times. They also enlist in the 
hardest of times.
  Many people would say I never voted for this war. I wouldn't vote for 
this war. This war is wrong. Men and women of the Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard don't say whether the war is right or 
wrong. They make a statement about whether America is right or wrong. 
In their eyes, and in my eyes, America is right. We have a process 
which we observe in order to ensure that we do not easily go into war, 
we do not easily send our troops into harm's way.
  However, our men and women are in harm's way today. And for this 
month, like every day that we are at war, we should honor our men and 
women in uniform. We should make that extra effort to try to do what we 
can for those returning home and for those who remain behind, the 
families, the children, the husbands, the wives, making sure that every 
day they are taken care of, that their special needs, because of the 
absence of the loved one, are observed. And when they come home, they 
don't come home from the first deployment, the parade is not as easy to 
recognize; they don't come home from the last deployment. It is not so 
easy to say, we are coming home for good.
  So I urge my colleagues and I urge all of America to think about the 
appreciation we can show year round to in fact realize that a parade is 
just as important to a troop who has come home from their third 
deployment. Recognition, a picnic, or some other way of saying we care 
about your continued service, is just as important in the sixth and 
seventh year of a struggle that could in fact go on for many years in 
order to bring freedom and a way of life that is acceptable to the 
people of Afghanistan and Iraq and other countries throughout the 
world.
  Today we can recognize where our men and women are fighting, but we 
don't often recognize where they are standing so that we don't have to 
fight. And I would like to close by recognizing the men and women who 
are in the Sudan, who are in fact trying to do what they can in Africa 
for some very troubled spots in which we don't recognize it as our 
fighting but we certainly have to recognize that we are trying to make 
a difference for those people who in their struggles every day realize 
that they are at war.
  I join with the gentlelady from California in urging the support for 
this resolution. I join with the gentleman from Connecticut in 
recognizing that every day, every month, should be National Military 
Recognition Month.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 
334, which expresses support for National Military Appreciation Month. 
I introduced this resolution to pay tribute to the men and women who 
serve in our Armed Forces.
  This May is the 10th National Military Appreciation Month. As we 
approach Memorial Day, I believe it is an appropriate time to thank our 
service men and women for their service to our country. The men and 
women who serve our country and defend freedom deserve to be treated 
with nothing less than the highest level of dignity and respect.
  Our country is at war and the brave men and women of our military 
deserve the full support of every American. We need to provide them 
with every resource they will need in the difficult months and years to 
come, starting with our gratitude and respect.
  I am grateful for this resolution being brought to the floor, and 
support its adoption.
  Mr. ISSA. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 334, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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