[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 141 (Thursday, October 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7387-S7388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONTINUING RELIGIOUS SERVICES TO MEMBERS AND FAMILIES OF THE ARMED 
                                 FORCES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to H. Con. Res. 58.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58) expressing the 
     sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued 
     availability of religious services to members of the Armed 
     Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.

[[Page S7388]]

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Levin amendment to the 
concurrent resolution, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the 
concurrent resolution, as amended, be agreed to; that a Levin amendment 
to the preamble, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the preamble, as 
amended, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2002) was agreed to, as follows:

                   (Purpose: To amend the resolution)

       On page 2, strike line 3 and all that follows through page 
     3, line 2, and insert the following:
       (1) finds that the provision and availability of religious 
     services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing 
     of many members of the Armed Forces and their families; and
       (2) hopes the Secretary of Defense is able to determine 
     that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military 
     personnel, and would therefore be covered under the 
     appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act 
     (Public Law 113-39).

  The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58), as amended, was agreed 
to.
  The amendment (No. 2003) was agreed to, as follows:

                    (Purpose: To amend the preamble)

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas the Department of Defense determined that some 
     contractor clergy, like other Department of Defense 
     contractors, were unable to perform their contractual duties 
     during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas this determination may have impacted the ability of 
     members of the Armed Forces and their families to worship and 
     participate in religious activities;
       Whereas military chaplains on active duty, like all 
     military personnel on active duty, continue to perform their 
     duties during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas the Department continues to analyze its authorities 
     under the Pay Our Military Act (Public Law 113-39) with 
     respect to contractors; and
       Whereas the Pay Our Military Act appropriates such sums as 
     are necessary to pay contractors of the Department whom the 
     Secretary of Defense determines are providing support to 
     members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it

  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, 
reads as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 58

     Resolved, That the resolution from the House of 
     Representatives (H. Con. Res. 58) entitled ``Concurrent 
     resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the 
     need for the continued availability of religious services to 
     members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse 
     in appropriations.'', do pass with the following amendments:
     (1) Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas the Department of Defense determined that some 
     contractor clergy, like other Department of Defense 
     contractors, were unable to perform their contractual duties 
     during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas this determination may have impacted the ability of 
     members of the Armed Forces and their families to worship and 
     participate in religious activities;
       Whereas military chaplains on active duty, like all 
     military personnel on active duty, continue to perform their 
     duties during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas the Department continues to analyze its authorities 
     under the Pay Our Military Act (Public Law 113-39) with 
     respect to contractors; and
       Whereas the Pay Our Military Act appropriates such sums as 
     are necessary to pay contractors of the Department whom the 
     Secretary of Defense determines are providing support to 
     members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it
     (2) On page 2, strike line 3 and all that follows through 
     page 3, line 2, and insert the following:
       (1) finds that the provision and availability of religious 
     services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing 
     of many members of the Armed Forces and their families; and
       (2) hopes the Secretary of Defense is able to determine 
     that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military 
     personnel, and would therefore be covered under the 
     appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act 
     (Public Law 113-39).

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