[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               ARMED SERVICES APPRECIATION PAY RAISE ACT

  (Mr. REHBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. REHBERG. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the Armed Services 
Appreciation Pay Raise Act, the ASAP Act, to increase the salaries of 
our dedicated service personnel by 3.5 percent this year. When combined 
with next year's scheduled pay increase, this act will put an 
additional $150 per month in their pockets.
  The issue should transcend politics. As long as there are military 
personnel collecting food stamps, as long as there are Americans who 
choose not to serve because they cannot afford to, we obviously have a 
problem that needs to be solved.
  More and more is being asked of the men and women in our Armed 
Forces, especially our active Reservists and National Guard members who 
have shouldered an increasing burden through our military draw-down. 
But we have not appropriately rewarded them for their increasingly 
important role in our national defense.
  Madam Speaker, I promised the people of Montana that recognizing the 
contribution of our young men and women in uniform would be the first 
legislation I introduced as a United States Congressman. Today, I am 
proud to honor that commitment by introducing the ASAP Act.

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