[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2567-S2568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 431--HONORING MILITARY CHILDREN DURING THE NATIONAL 
                      MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Warner, Mr. Whitehouse, 
Mrs. Hagan, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Schatz, Ms. 
Warren, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, and Ms. Hirono) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 431

       Whereas more than 2,200,000 individuals demonstrate courage 
     and commitment to freedom by serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States;
       Whereas 43.5 percent of members of the Armed Forces, when 
     deployed away from their permanent duty stations, leave 
     behind families with children;
       Whereas no one feels the effect of deployments more than 
     the children of deployed members of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas as of March 2014, more than 52,000 children have 
     had a military parent wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
     Operation Enduring Freedom;
       Whereas the daily struggles and personal sacrifices of 
     children of members of the Armed Forces are too often 
     unnoticed;
       Whereas countless children live with a parent who is a 
     member of the Armed Forces and who bears a visible or 
     invisible wound of war;
       Whereas the children of members of the Armed Forces are a 
     source of pride and honor to the people of the United States, 
     and it is fitting that the United States recognize the 
     contributions of such children and celebrate the spirit of 
     such children;
       Whereas the National Month of the Military Child, observed 
     in April of each year, recognizes military children for their 
     sacrifices and contributes to demonstrating the unconditional 
     support of the United States for members of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas in addition to programs of the Department of 
     Defense to support military families and military children, 
     various programs and campaigns have been established in the 
     private sector to honor, support, and thank military children 
     by fostering awareness and appreciation for the sacrifices 
     and the challenges that such children face; and
       Whereas a month-long salute to military children encourages 
     support for the organizations and campaigns established to 
     provide direct support for military children and families: 
     Now, therefore, be it

[[Page S2568]]

       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) joins the Secretary of Defense in honoring the children 
     of members of the Armed Forces and recognizes that such 
     children share in the burden of protecting the United States; 
     and
       (2) urges the people of the United States to join the 
     military community in observing the National Month of the 
     Military Child with appropriate ceremonies and activities 
     that honor, support, and thank military children.

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