[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3297-H3300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      YEAR OF THE MILITARY FAMILY

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 64) urging the President to 
designate 2009 as the ``Year of the Military Family''.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 64

       Whereas there are more than 1.8 million family members of 
     regular component members of the Armed Forces and an 
     additional 1.1 million family members of reserve component 
     members;
       Whereas slightly more than half of all members of the 
     regular and reserve components are married, and just over 40 
     percent of military spouses are 30 years or younger and 60 
     percent of military spouses are under 36 years of age;
       Whereas there are nearly 1.2 million children between the 
     ages of birth and 23 years who are dependents of regular 
     component members, and there are over 713,000 children 
     between such ages who are dependents of reserve component 
     members;
       Whereas the largest group of minor children of regular 
     component members consist of children between the ages of 
     birth and 5 years, while the largest group of minor children 
     of reserve component members consist of children between the 
     ages of 6 and 14 years;
       Whereas the needs, resources, and challenges confronting a 
     military family, particularly when a member of the family has 
     been deployed, vastly differ between younger age children and 
     children who are older;
       Whereas the United States recognizes that military families 
     are also serving their country, and the United States must 
     ensure that all the needs of military dependent children are 
     being met, for children of members of both the regular and 
     reserve components;
       Whereas military families often face unique challenges and 
     difficulties that are inherent to military life, including 
     long separations from loved ones, the repetitive demands of 
     frequent deployments, and frequent uprooting of community 
     ties resulting from moves to bases across the country and 
     overseas;
       Whereas thousands of military family members have taken on 
     volunteer responsibilities to assist units and members of the 
     Armed Forces who have been deployed by supporting family 
     readiness groups, helping military spouses meet the demands 
     of a single parent during a deployment, or providing a 
     shoulder to cry on or the comfort of understanding;
       Whereas military families provide members of the Armed 
     Forces with the strength and emotional support that is needed 
     from the home front for members preparing to deploy, who are 
     deployed, or who are returning from deployment;
       Whereas some military families have given the ultimate 
     sacrifice in the loss of a principal family member in defense 
     of the United States; and
       Whereas 2009 would be an appropriate year to designate as 
     the ``Year of the Military Family'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) expresses its deepest appreciation to the families of 
     members of the Armed Forces who serve, or have served, in 
     defense of the United States;
       (2) recognizes the contributions that military families 
     make, and encourages the people of the United States to share 
     their appreciation for the sacrifices military families give 
     on behalf of the United States; and
       (3) urges the President--
       (A) to designate a ``Year of the Military Family''; and
       (B) to encourage the people of the United States and the 
     Department of Defense to observe the ``Year of Military 
     Family'' with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 
64, which I introduced, along with my ranking member, John McHugh, and 
the majority of my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee.
  House Concurrent Resolution 64 calls for the President to designate 
2009 as the ``Year of the Military Family.''
  For over 7 years, our Nation has been in sustained conflict. Our 
servicemembers are facing multiple deployments, but they are not the 
only ones who are shouldering the burden of the war. Nearly 2 million 
of our military families have also shared in that burden.

[[Page H3298]]

  While I am proud of Americans across this great Nation who have 
volunteered or contributed funds and supplies to support our deployed 
and injured troops, those who have been on the forefront of those 
efforts are the military families. Over the last several years, 
military families have faced months of separation, some as long as 18 
to 20 months. With over 1 million children between the ages of birth 
and 23 years of age who have parents in uniform, there have been many 
missed birthdays, graduations, holidays, and a child's first words and 
other major life accomplishments that are all too common as troops 
continue to experience back-to-back deployments.
  Military families endure such hardship and sacrifices so their 
servicemember can proudly continue to serve the Nation. Military 
families often provide moral support, as well as comfort, to each 
other, especially during these difficult times. However, many families, 
especially those in the Reserves and Guard, do not have that luxury. 
Often these families must face these hardships alone, far from support 
programs and far from facilities that are located on military bases.
  The President and Mrs. Obama have stated that military families will 
be a top priority for this administration. I applaud the President and 
Mrs. Obama for their commitment to their military families.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the President to continue this commitment and 
recognize the sacrifices of military family members who have given 
support to their servicemember and this nation, and declare this to be 
the ``Year of the Military Family.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 64, which urges the President to designate 2009 as the 
``Year of the Military Family,'' and I thank the chairman of the Armed 
Services Committee, Representative Skelton, for offering it.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute today to the force behind 
the force--the military family. It has long been known that the 
military services recruit individuals but retain families. This has 
never been more true nor more critical than it is today. The support 
our troops receive from their loving families--mothers, fathers, 
sisters, brothers, spouses and children--is intangible, and it is 
nothing less than a powerful force multiplier.
  Dedicating a year to honor the service and sacrifice of our military 
families is the least we can do to say thank you and to call attention 
to this sometimes forgotten resource. Today, Mr. Speaker, millions of 
Americans have one or more family members serving in the Armed Forces. 
These incredible families attempt to lead normal lives while their 
loved ones stand in harm's way, fulfilling our Nation's oath to serve 
and protect.
  But they do not just wait. They also serve. Military spouses spend 
countless hours volunteering in family readiness programs and wounded 
warrior networks, all while managing to be two parents at once. 
Military children, numbering almost 2 million in our country, attempt 
to be like other children while trying their hardest not to let sadness 
and worry overcome them.
  Mr. Speaker, the strength of the military family is astonishing. As 
we celebrate military families, let us not forget the sacrifice of 
parents. Military parents give their sons and daughters to the Nation 
and pray ceaselessly for their safe return. They look forward to every 
letter and every phone call, while fearing the ringing of the phone and 
the doorbell at the same time.
  Military children, Mr. Speaker, are a very different breed of young 
adult. They do not always have hometowns, but they do have a heightened 
sense of family, both in the traditional sense and in the special 
characteristics of the military community. Their home is where the 
military chooses to send them, and their family becomes all who 
surround them.
  They do not hesitate to support their family when their father or 
mother walks out the door for 6 months, 8 months, or even more often 
now, a year. In most cases they are Mom or Dad's biggest fans. Many 
times the oldest child takes over as second in charge while serving as 
a rock for the youngest.
  Even at a young age, military children know what the words ``ultimate 
sacrifice'' means, and these words are in the back of their minds every 
day that goes by. Military families have an uncanny resilience. They 
are some of the strongest citizens in this country, and I am privileged 
to recognize them not only today, but every day.
  I have many such dedicated families in my strongly military district, 
the Fifth District of Colorado.

                              {time}  1300

  I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution 
because without the support of our military families, our Armed Forces 
would not be the incredible power that they are today.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Becerra).
  Mr. BECERRA. I thank the chairman for yielding and, more importantly, 
I thank him for this resolution, which tries to not only recognize the 
men and women who are in uniform, but certainly the men and women and 
children and parents of our soldiers in uniform who day to day have to 
go through the same experiences that our troops abroad and in our 
military stations throughout must go through as well.
  There are some 3 million Americans today who represent the family 
members of our brave soldiers. I am pleased to say that I count myself 
among those family members. And I believe it is something that not only 
should be done in 2009 to urge the President to designate this year as 
the Year of the Military Family but, quite honestly, this is something 
we should do every year.
  I think it is of the utmost importance. And we applaud the First Lady 
of the United States, Michelle Obama, for the role that she has decided 
to play in elevating the stature of our families who are here or 
throughout the world and have a family member serving today on behalf 
of this country.
  It is something that I think sometimes we take for granted. But this 
is an occasion today where, on the floor of the most democratic body in 
the history of this world, we can say to all those who serve in 
uniform, not just from our country, but throughout, that we do think 
about you, we do respect what you do and, more importantly, we realize 
that you have family that day to day must go through the same 
experiences you do.
  So, Mr. Chairman, I think it is something we should do, as I said, 
all the time. I think every Member in this body would agree that we 
have to think about our servicemembers and their families every day. 
And it doesn't hurt to periodically do it in a more official way by 
actually having a resolution which urges the President to declare this 
year the Year of the Military Family.
  With that, I thank you very much for not just your service, but your 
insight and your wisdom in trying to always make sure that we elevate 
our men and women in uniform and their families to the highest levels 
we can.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to a new member of the 
Armed Services Committee, but she's already starting to make a strong 
contribution, the gentlelady from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin).
  Ms. FALLIN. I am here today to support this resolution also, and to 
support the naming of 2009 as the Year of the Military Family. For 
years now, we have been sending our sons and our daughters overseas to 
fight terror and also fight for our freedom. Our military men and women 
have sacrificed, missing birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and 
endured many hardships, and we are honored on this floor in this 
Chamber to frequently pay tribute to those men and women.
  Too often, however, we forget the families, the loved ones behind our 
military men and women--our mothers, our fathers, our children, our 
siblings, husbands and wives of our troops. Their sacrifice is also 
worthy of our greatest respect. These are the unsung heroes of the War 
on Terror, the loved ones who watch our troops go into battle, and are 
ready to greet them when they arrive back home.
  We now have 1.8 million family members of active duty military 
personnel, and just over 1 million family members

[[Page H3299]]

of reservists. Of every two soldiers who are deployed, one leaves 
behind a wife or a husband who will wait for months, and sometimes even 
years, before they see their spouse again.
  Nearly 2 million children have fathers or mothers who are in the 
military, and these children, undoubtedly, feel great pride in having a 
mother or father serve their country, but they also feel a great burden 
of growing up with one parent who often is far from home and missing 
those important times.
  Without the support and sacrifice of these brave men, women, and 
their children, our Armed Services could not function, so much so that 
it is just safe to say thank you to our military families for their 
service and for protecting our country and for making the tremendous 
sacrifices with their families.
  So, Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons, I would like to join my 
colleagues in also congratulating the 2009 members of the military 
families, and to say that this is your year. 2009 is the Year of the 
Military Family. So let us join in and respect those families and honor 
them today in this Chamber.
  Mr. SKELTON. I yield such time as he may consume to a cosponsor of 
this legislation, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I am honored to have a moment to speak on this 
resolution, and deeply grateful to Chairman Skelton for introducing it 
and advancing it.
  You know, they say that an army travels on its stomach. In other 
words, the physical well-being of an army has to be taken into 
consideration. They have to be well fed, they have to be cared for.
  The way you win wars though, comes from the heart and mind of our 
soldiers, sailors, and airmen. And the way that you motivate them is to 
assure them that this country is providing for their families. That is 
what they care about more than anything else.
  When they go to war, when they choose to serve this country in the 
Armed Services, their principal motivation, really, is their family. 
They are doing this to provide security to their children, to their 
parents, to their loved ones. And that is what this resolution is all 
about, recognizing the indispensable role that military families play.
  We have lost more than 2,000 parents of young children in Iraq. But 
hundreds of thousands have known that when they say goodbye to their 
daddy or mommy, they may not see them again. And they have to live with 
that reality.
  They comfort each other, families get to know each other, provide a 
support network. But it's absolutely essential that we, as a Nation, 
understand that we are putting these families on the front line. That 
they are prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice, that they are fully 
prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that we have soldiers, 
sailors, airmen and women who will go to war, will risk their lives, 
knowing that they have the support of their families at home.
  Now, we have tried to put more money into the veterans' bill to 
improve health care, particularly the type of health care that we have 
found a particular compelling need for--permanent brain injury, post-
traumatic stress disorder, mental illnesses--that have increased 
dramatically in the last few years, particularly with IEDs and the 
violence that they cause in Iraq and Afghanistan. But when they come 
home, if we don't adequately treat them, the price is paid by the 
family.
  It's the family that has to deal with sometimes uncontrollable 
violent urges, where the veteran of combat finds it difficult to 
control themselves, to make that transition to the society in which 
they need to take on the role of husband, wife, or parent.
  All of these challenges are even greater than they have ever been 
before. And that is why this Congress, this Nation, needs to take every 
opportunity to focus on the needs of these families who show real 
patriotism and real loyalty to the principles and ideals and values of 
this Nation, and are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to uphold 
those principles, ideals, and values, even the risk of loss of a loved 
one.
  So, with that, Mr. Chairman, again, I thank you for introducing, for 
promoting this resolution and, most importantly, I thank you for being 
conscious of what this resolution is all about every single day 
throughout the year in the legislation that the Armed Services 
Committee and your colleagues in the Congress pass. It has to be a 
priority.
  So, I know this will pass unanimously, and I appreciate the fact that 
it's offered on the floor today.
  Mr. LAMBORN. At this point, I yield 4 minutes to someone who's made a 
strong contribution to the military--until January, he served for many 
years on the Armed Services Committee--the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Gingrey).
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 64, urging the 
President to designate 2009 as the Year of the Military Family. It's 
going to be difficult to follow the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Moran, 
what he said out of compassion and love for the military families, but 
I will humbly try to do so.
  Certainly, I would like to say a special thanks to Chairman Skelton, 
Ranking Member John McHugh, as well as to the members and the staff of 
the House Armed Services Committee, for the tireless effort in support 
of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are bravely defending 
us at home and abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, today we rightfully take time to recognize the families 
of those brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the 
service of our Nation. I stand here and I am thinking about so many 
families--moms and dads, brothers and sisters--of fallen soldiers in my 
State of Georgia, and of my district, the 11th Congressional in 
northwest Georgia. I am not trying to mention all of them, but they are 
definitely in my mind and in my heart.
  For it is not just the members of the military who serve our country, 
but also their family members, who sacrifice so much in support of 
these heroes who, day in and day out, protect our freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, the families of those who serve our country on the front 
lines deserve the admiration and appreciation of each and every 
citizen. These family members often watch their loved ones travel to 
faraway lands in support of a cause and an ideal so much greater than 
any one individual.
  Indeed, the democracy on display here today with our presence in this 
Chamber is testament to the courage and valor of our Armed Forces. The 
support given to our servicemen and women by their loved ones is 
irreplaceable, as it's a foundation for the bravery inherent in those 
who labor steadfastly in the defense of liberty.
  Any of us who have watched videos and movies about the Civil War and 
read some of those letters to home that the infantrymen would write, 
maybe right before a battle and they give their lives to their country, 
it is indeed moving.
  So, let us now honor and say a gracious thank you to each and every 
military family, every member of those families, for the encouragement, 
love, and kindness they exhibit in supporting their precious loved ones 
as they serve a Nation that will forever be free because of their 
sacrifice. It is to the family members that we now say thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, we are proud of all of our servicemen and women and are 
eternally grateful for their efforts in the Global War on Terror. Let 
us not forget the ones who have provided the closest circle of support 
for them wherever they may serve around the globe. I urge all my 
colleagues, of course, to support this.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Berman).

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time 
to join the others in making a particular statement on behalf of the 
sacrifice of military families.
  We pay great attention, and should, to the sacrifices of our young 
servicemen and servicewomen who risk their lives in service of their 
country. We sometimes don't pay as much attention to people who make a 
tremendous sacrifice by virtue of seeing their loved ones, their 
spouses, their parents, their children in many cases, going off to

[[Page H3300]]

military service, particularly in the context of recent times, dealing 
with the repeated deployments, the disruptions, the movement, the 
constant concern about the welfare of the loved one. And it is quite 
appropriate and long overdue that we actually designate this year, 
2009, as the year of the military families. I strongly support this 
resolution.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for offering this 
resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Most of us Members of Congress have had the opportunity 
to witness military units as they are ready to deploy. We have also 
seen military units as they have returned, or individual members of our 
service returning, and watch their families greet them with happiness 
and with tears. It is difficult to put ourselves in their places, but 
the best we can do is to show our appreciation, and that our thoughts 
and our prayers are with them as well as their loved ones who are 
serving. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of urging 
the President to designate 2009 as the ``Year of the Military Family.''
  Our military's ability to perform its mission abroad is directly 
related to the strength of our families at home.
  Without families willing to sign up for military life alongside their 
soldier, sailor, airman or marine, we would not have the tremendous 
all-volunteer force we have today.
  Our military has been at war for nearly eight years against 
persistent and determined enemies thousands of miles away. And in many 
ways, so have our military families.
  With loved ones deployed to theatres of combat, our families have 
lived with the enormous uncertainty brought by every ring of the phone 
and every knock on the door.
  For far too many, that unexpected phone call or visitor announced the 
tragic loss of a spouse or parent.
  For thousands more, injuries sustained in battle require a spouse or 
child to take on the responsibility of caretaker.
  I am continually amazed at their resilience and ability to continue 
with their lives under such difficult circumstances.
  Every family signed up knowing the requirements of duty.
  However, regular assignments to theatres of war will challenge even 
the strongest families.
  Like many of my colleagues, I hear the frustration and sense the pain 
that frequent, dangerous and unpredictable deployments are having on 
military communities.
  We know that these deployments are often measured not by weeks or 
months, but by anniversaries, birthdays and important life moments.
  Describing the length of her husband's deployment, one of my 
constituents told me how her husband ``missed his older son's 
graduation from college, and his youngest son's graduation from High 
School.'' Her frustration was clear.
  As Chairman Skelton mentioned earlier, over a million children have 
not had a mom or dad or both home for life's important events.
  We have tried to take steps to lessen the strain on our families, but 
high operational tempo and policies like stop-loss still have a 
significant impact.
  As a Navy wife recently told me, ``We are resigned to the necessity 
of deployment.''
  Mr. Speaker, our first commander in chief, President Washington, 
said, ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve 
in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to 
how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated 
by our nation.''
  Today, President Washington's statement should probably read, ``The 
willingness with which our ``families are likely to serve in any war, 
no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they 
perceive families of early wars were treated and appreciated by our 
nation.''
  That is why the Military Personnel Subcommittee will hold a hearing 
later this year focusing on military families and topics that are 
unique to military life.
  . . . But it will take more than a series of hearings to address the 
very real concerns felt by families and men and women in uniform.
  Just as we must ensure that service members have the equipment they 
need in the field, so too must we guarantee that families have the 
support they need at home.
  I urge President Obama to honor the commitment of those who ``serve'' 
behind our men and women in uniform and designate 2009 the Year of the 
Military Family.
  I hope all my colleagues will support this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 64, ``Urging the President to designate 2009 as the `Year of the 
Military Family'.'' I want to thank my colleague Congressman Ike 
Skelton of Missouri for introducing this resolution.
  No group of Americans has stood stronger and braver for our nation 
than those who have served in the Armed Forces. From the bitter cold 
winter at Valley Forge to the boiling hot Iraqi terrain, our soldiers 
have courageously answered when called upon, gone where ordered, and 
defended our nation with honor. Their noble service reminds us of our 
mission as a nation--to build a future worthy of their courage and your 
sacrifice. We celebrate, honor and remember these courageous and 
faithful men and women.
  While the nation's attention has been wholly focused on the economic 
crisis, Americans continue to die in wars across the globe, from Iraq 
to Afghanistan and beyond. The war in Iraq no longer makes headlines, 
but for military families it remains a daily reality, and I urge my 
colleagues to recognize the challenges that the families of these brave 
soldiers face and support this resolution in their honor.
  When American troops are the ones fighting abroad, it is our military 
families who must also suffer. They wait every day and night hoping to 
hear from their loved ones, praying that they are not put in harm's 
way, that they may come home soon. Too many families have not been so 
lucky, finding out the news of a loved one's death is not only 
emotionally traumatizing it can have long term effects for the family 
that may never be repaired.
  We must all stand as champions for our men and women fighting abroad. 
These soldiers who bravely reported for duty, they are our sons and our 
daughters, they are our fathers and mothers, they are our husbands and 
wives, they are our fellow Americans.
  There are over 26,550,000 veterans in the United States. In the 18th 
Congressional district of Texas alone there are more than 38,000 
veterans and they make up almost ten percent of this district's 
civilian population over the age of 18.
  We remember and honor the sacrifices of our forces and their 
families. And we renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred 
obligations to those who have worn this nation's uniform. Our veterans 
and their families ask for nothing more. Let us fight the good fight.
  Mr. SKELTON. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 64.
  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. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

                          ____________________