[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 7--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
  DESIGNATION OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS ``NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. INOUYE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 7

       Whereas military families, through their sacrifices and 
     their dedication to the United States and its values, 
     represent the bedrock upon which the United States was 
     founded and upon which the country continues to rely in these 
     perilous and challenging times: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that the month of 
     November should be designated as ``National Military Family 
     Month''; and
       (2) the Senate encourages the people of the United States 
     to observe National Military Family Month with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to honor all our military 
families by introducing a resolution to designate November as National 
Military Family Month. As we all know, memories fade, and the hardships 
experienced by our military families are easily forgotten unless they 
touch our own immediate family.
  Today, we have our men and women deployed all over the world, engaged 
in this war on terrorism. These far-ranging military deployments are 
extremely difficult on the families who bear this heavy burden.
  To honor these families, the Armed Services YMCA has sponsored 
Military Family Week in late November since 1996. However, due to 
frequent ``short week'' conflicts around the Thanksgiving holidays, the 
designated week has not always afforded enough time to schedule 
observances on and near our military bases.
  I believe a month long observation will allow greater opportunity to 
plan events. Moreover, it will provide a greater opportunity to 
stimulate media support.
  A concurrent Resolution will help pave the way for this effort. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our military 
families.

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