[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 161 (Monday, November 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10992-S10993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 330--COMMENDING THE SERVICE OF THE 56TH STRYKER 
      BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Specter) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 330

       Whereas the members of the Army National Guard and Air 
     National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania reside throughout 
     the State and come from a number of different backgrounds, 
     professions, and communities;
       Whereas members and units of the Pennsylvania National 
     Guard have been deployed in support of United States military 
     operations at home and in Iraq, Afghanistan, and dozens of 
     other countries;
       Whereas one such unit, the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team 
     of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is composed of 
     approximately 4,000 citizen-soldiers from throughout the 
     State of Pennsylvania;
       Whereas the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team is the only 
     National Guard Stryker Brigade serving in the United States 
     Army;
       Whereas the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, following 
     mobilization and deployment to Kosovo in 2003, was placed on 
     Federal active duty for a second overseas mobilization on 
     September 19, 2008, and deployed to Iraq on January 15, 2009;
       Whereas during the deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade 
     Combat Team in Taji, Iraq, the brigade was primarily engaged 
     in convoy security, force protection, provincial 
     reconstruction, and base operations missions;
       Whereas the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team 
     performed more than 800 combined operations, captured 7 
     brigade-level high-value targets, and discovered more than 80 
     enemy weapon caches; and

[[Page S10993]]

       Whereas in September 2009, upon completion of 1 year of 
     service in support of military operations in Iraq, the 56th 
     Stryker Brigade Combat Team returned to the United States and 
     demobilized: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its gratitude to the members of the Army 
     National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of 
     Pennsylvania and their families for their service and 
     sacrifice on behalf of the United States;
       (2) commends the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat 
     Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard on the 
     completion of their deployment to Iraq;
       (3) recognizes the achievements of the members of the 56th 
     Stryker Brigade Combat Team, as well as all other formerly 
     and presently deployed Pennsylvania Army National Guard and 
     Air National Guard units and members, for their exemplary 
     service; and
       (4) offers its condolences to the family and friends of 
     Specialist Chad Edmundson of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, and 
     Staff Sergeant Mark Baum of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, who 
     died in service to their country.

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the contributions 
of the 56th Stryker Brigade, which recently returned to homes and 
families across Pennsylvania. For nine months, the 56th Stryker Brigade 
has been deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq. Here, these civilian soldiers, 
known as the Independence Brigade, worked side by side with their Iraqi 
counterparts to continue to bring stability and security to the Iraqi 
people.
  On the front lines, they patrolled neighborhoods in unrelenting 
conditions, targeted insurgents, and swept for improvised explosion 
devices, IEDs. They performed more than 800 combined operations, 
captured seven brigade-level high valued targets, and discovered more 
than 80 enemy weapon caches. Any success we have had in Iraq is not 
only the result of military achievements. In this regard, it is equally 
important to recognize the $22 million in reconstruction efforts that 
the 56th Stryker Brigade assisted with in coordination with an embedded 
U.S. provincial reconstruction team.
  While these young men and women are now home, we must also remember 
those who fell in battle. Two members of the 56th gave ``the last full 
measure of devotion.'' Specialist Chad Edmundson of Williamsburg was 
killed by an IED and Staff Sergeant Mark Baum of Quakertown was killed 
by enemy small arms fire. To these soldiers' families and friends, I 
want to express condolence and gratitude on behalf of the people of 
Pennsylvania for their sacrifice. Please know that our prayers are with 
you, and that we will never take for granted their personal courage and 
sacrifice. We pray for Chad and Mark and ourselves that we may be 
worthy of their valor.
  While deployed, many things may have changed for these members of the 
Pennsylvania National Guard. For example, some service members met 
their sons and daughters for the first time. Nevertheless for all, a 
time of readjustment and reintegration back into their communities and 
daily lives lies ahead.
  I want the National Guard to know that I will always be committed to 
helping them during this phase. I know that there are other Guard 
members who bear scars from battle, some visible and some not. The U.S. 
Senate must ensure that our citizen soldiers' jobs are maintained while 
they are deployed and we must provide opportunities for them to find 
employment upon their return. For this reason, I will continue to urge 
my colleagues to take up and adopt the Service Members Access to 
Justice Act and the FORCE Act, which will make National Guard 
assistance programs more effective and responsive, and ensure that 
National Guard troops keep their jobs and employment benefits as 
required under law.
  Again, I want to express my appreciation to the 56th Stryker Brigade 
and all of our men and women in service.

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