[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 62 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2016

  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, brave Americans from every walk of life have 
demonstrated their courage and commitment to freedom by serving in the 
Armed Forces of the United States of America. Many of those military 
personnel are parents whose children make significant sacrifices, too. 
The average child in a military family will move six to nine times 
during a school career, three times more frequently than non-military 
families.
  During deployments, military children face separation and loss, and 
they face the joys and the challenges of reunification when deployments 
end. If a parent suffers an injury, the military child must also adapt 
to the new reality of that parent's limitations. Some military-
connected children end up in the foster care system, bringing with them 
particular needs and circumstances. And if a parent is killed, the 
child's life is changed forever.
  In recognition of this, April has been designated as the Month of the 
Military Child. According to the Department of Defense, 1.88 million 
children have parents in the active duty or reserve branches of the 
military, and many more children have parents who are veterans. Los 
Angeles is home to the highest population of military veterans in 
California.
  On Sunday, April 17, Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative--Families & 
Children Working Group will hold their 3rd annual celebration of this 
occasion at the Los Angeles Public Library. Organized under the 
auspices of the USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and 
Military Families in my district, their work offers an opportunity for 
us to applaud these children's strength and resilience, and to honor 
their unique contributions and sacrifices.
  I salute military children and all of the parents, family members, 
friends, professionals and organizations who support them.

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