[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 29281-29282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNITION OF THE ARMED FORCES RELIEF TRUST FUND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 17, 2003

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
outstanding efforts of the National Association of Broadcasters for 
their partnership with the Armed Forces Relief Trust Fund. The Armed 
Forces Relief Trust Fund serves as an umbrella organization 
incorporating the four Military Aid Societies from the Army, Navy-
Marine, Air Force and Coast Guard collecting and distributing donations 
that help reduce the burden on families of our military men and women. 
The partnership with National Association of Broadcasters will help 
create and broadcast public service announcements to encourage 
Americans to donate to the Armed Forces Relief Trust Fund.

[[Page 29282]]

  While our military men and women are serving our country, it is 
paramount that the American people band together so that we can ensure 
that no family incurs hardships while their loved one is away. Military 
aid programs, funded by private donations, provide services like 
college tuition for children and health care for pregnant wives, 
services that could have been provided if their family member had not 
been called to duty. Last year alone, the four military aid societies 
provided over $109 million in grants and interest free loans to 145,000 
families.
  I am confident that with the help of the National Association of 
Broadcasters the Armed Forces Relief Trust Fund can far exceed the 
number of families it was able to help last year. As an increasing 
number of Americans answer the call to duty, more and more families 
will be asking the Armed Forces Relief Trust Fund for help. The public 
service announcements developed by The National Association of 
Broadcasters will help to increase donations and insure that the trust 
fund has the solvency to answer this call.
  Mr. Speaker, the continued support of the brave men and women serving 
this country is extremely important to me. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in thanking the National Association of Broadcasters and the Armed 
Forces Relief Trust Fund for their assistance to our troops.

                          ____________________