[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING ON CHILD CUSTODY

                                 ______
                                 

                         Hon. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    In the House of Representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2012

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following letter.

                                     Congress of the United States


                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 29, 2012.
     Mr. Leon Panetta,
     Secretary of Defense,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Panetta We appreciate your interest stated 
     during the February 15, 2012 House Armed Services Committee 
     (HASC) hearing in protecting child custody rights for our men 
     and women in uniform.
       As you know, legislative language addressing this issue has 
     already passed the House of Representatives on six separate 
     occasions. It has passed five times as part of the National 
     Defense Authorization Act, every year from 2008 through 2012. 
     Additionally, in 2008 this language passed the House as a 
     stand-alone bill (HR 6048) by voice vote. Sixty members from 
     both sides of the aisle signed on to HR 6048 as co-sponsors. 
     Most recently, the bill was included in the Managers Package 
     in the FY12 House NDAA and was supported by the Department of 
     Defense (DoD).
       Enclosed are letters of support that both Secretary Gates 
     and Secretary Stanley provided for this legislation last 
     year. Also enclosed is the 2010 HASC letter to Secretary 
     Gates. As we move forward with the current legislative 
     session, we look forward to the same level of support from 
     the DoD in addressing this important issue and ensuring that 
     our men and women in uniform have their parental rights 
     protected.
           Sincerely,
         Michael Turner, Rob Andrews, Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, 
           Chairman, Adam Smith, Ranking Member, Mac Thornberry, 
           Vice Chairman, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Walter B. Jones, W. 
           Todd Akin, J. Randy Forbes, Jeff Miller, Joe Wilson, 
           Frank A. LoBiondo, John Kline, Mike Rogers and Trent 
           Franks.
         Bill Shuster, K. Michael Conaway, Doug Lamborn, Rob 
           Wittman, Duncan Hunter, John C. Fleming, Mike Coffman, 
           Thomas J. Rooney, Todd Russell Platts, Scott Rigell, 
           Chris Gibson, Vicky Hartzler, Joe Heck, Bobby Schilling 
           and Jon Runyan.
          Austin Scott, Tim Griffin, Steve Palazzo, Allen West, 
           Martha Roby, Mo Brooks, Todd Young, Silvestre Reyes, 
           Loretta Sanchez, Mike McIntyre, Robert A. Brady, Susan 
           A. Davis, James R. Langevin, Rick Larsen, Jim Cooper 
           and Madeleine Z. Bordallo.
         Joe Courtney, David Loebsack, Niki Tsongas, Chellie 
           Pingree, Larry Kissell, Martin Heinrich, William L. 
           Owens, John Garamendi, Mark Critz, Tim Ryan, C.A. Dutch 
           Ruppersberger, Hank Johnson, Betty Sutton, Colleen 
           Hanabusa, Kathleen C. Hochul, and Jackie Speier.

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