[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8011-8017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TROOPS PHONE HOME FREE ACT OF 2003

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. 718, the Troops Phone Home Free Act 
of 2003; that the only amendment in order be a McCain substitute 
amendment; further, that there be 1 hour of debate equally divided 
between Senator McCain and the Democratic leader or his designee; that 
at the expiration or yielding back of time, the amendment be adopted, 
the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, without 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 718) to provide a monthly allotment for free 
     telephone calling time to members of the United States armed 
     forces stationed outside the United States who are directly 
     supporting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.


                           Amendment No. 434

  Mr. McCAIN. I ask unanimous consent that the McCain substitute be 
adopted at this time for consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 434) was agreed to, as follows:

   (Purpose: To make minor changes in the plan to provide a monthly 
   allotment of free telephone calling time to members of the United 
    States armed forces stationed outside the United States who are 
    directly supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan)

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Troops Phone Home Free Act 
     of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to support the morale of the 
     brave men and women of the United States armed services 
     stationed outside the United States who are directly 
     supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan (as 
     determined by the Secretary of Defense) by giving them the 
     ability to place calls to their loved ones without expense to 
     them.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The armed services of the United States are the finest 
     in the world.
       (2) The members of the armed services are bravely placing 
     their lives in danger to protect the security of the people 
     of the United States and to advance the cause of freedom in 
     Iraq.
       (3) Their families and loved ones are making sacrifices at 
     home in support of the members of the armed services abroad.
       (4) Telephone contact with family and friends provides 
     significant emotional and psychological support to them and 
     helps to sustain and improve morale.

     SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BENEFIT.

       (a) In General.--As soon as possible after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     provide, wherever practicable, prepaid phone cards, or an 
     equivalent telecommunications benefit which includes access 
     to telephone service, to members of the armed forces 
     stationed outside the United States who are directly 
     supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan (as 
     determined by the Secretary) to enable them to make telephone 
     calls to family and friends in the United States without cost 
     to the member.
       (b) Monthly Amount.--The value of the benefit provided by 
     subsection (a) shall not exceed $40 per month per person.
       (c) End of Program.--The program established by subsection 
     (a) shall terminate on the date that is 60 days after the 
     date on which the Secretary determines that Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom has ended.
       (d) Funding.
       (1) Use of existing resources.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall maximize the use of existing 
     Department of Defense telecommunications programs and 
     capabilities, private support organizations, private entities 
     offering free or reduced-cost services, and programs to 
     enhance morale and welfare.
       (2) Use of appropriated funds.--In addition to resources 
     described in paragraph (1) and notwithstanding any limitation 
     on the expenditure or obligation of appropriated amounts, the 
     Secretary may use available funds appropriated to or for the 
     use of the Department of Defense that are not otherwise 
     obligated or expended to carry out this section.

[[Page 8012]]



     SEC. 5. DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT.

       The Secretary of Defense shall work with telecommunications 
     providers to facilitate the deployment of additional 
     telephones for use in calling the United States under this 
     Act as quickly as practicable, consistent with the 
     availability of resources. Consistent with the timely 
     provision of telecommunications benefits under this Act, the 
     Secretary should carry out this section and section 4 in a 
     manner that allows for competition in the provision of such 
     benefits.

     SEC. 6. NO COMPROMISE OF MILITARY MISSION.

       The Secretary of Defense shall not take any action under 
     this Act that would compromise the military objectives or 
     mission of the Department of Defense.

  Mr. McCAIN. Just to be clear, at the expiration or yielding back of 
time, the amendment is adopted, and the bill, as amended, will be read 
a third time and passed, without intervening action or debate?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.
  Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Chair.
  This legislation, introduced on behalf of Senators Allen, Chambliss, 
Lindsey Graham, Craig, Miller, and others, would improve the ability of 
American service personnel fighting overseas to communicate with their 
loved ones at home. It provides a monthly allotment of free telephone 
calling time to members of the Armed Forces outside of the United 
States who are directly supporting or involved in military operations 
in Iraq or Afghanistan for such period of time as the conflict 
continues in both areas.
  I have discussed this issue with the Department of Defense and at 
this time they have not gotten back to me. I spoke to the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense. She supports the idea. There may be some changes 
proposed by the Department of Defense, but I am confident of their 
support.
  This legislation would direct the Secretary of Defense to provide 
these troops with the financial ability to call home by providing a 
prepaid calling card or equivalent telecommunications benefit up to $40 
every month. The bill would also direct the Secretary to work with 
telecommunications providers to facilitate the deployment of additional 
telephones for use by our troops. Our military mission must remain a 
priority of the Department of Defense. Therefore, the bill makes clear 
that the Secretary shall not take any action to implement the bill that 
would compromise our overall military objectives. Moreover, the bill 
gives the Secretary complete discretion on how best to implement it. If 
it is simply impractical to provide the benefit to certain soldiers, 
then the Secretary may refrain, obviously, from providing it. If the 
cost of providing the service to one branch of the military or the 
other is more costly, then the Secretary can determine the most 
equitable method of distributing the benefit.
  The bill also directs the Secretary to maximize the use of all 
resources to fulfill the goals of the act and, thus, he may use 
existing programs, private support programs, or offers from private 
entities to make telephone service available to our troops. For 
example, I received a generous offer today from Joseph Wright, CEO of 
PanAmSat Corporation. In his letter he said:

       [This bill] is a terrific idea and I would like to support 
     it. . . .We would be willing to provide satellite services 
     free to support your initiative.

  The only intended beneficiaries of this bill are the troops serving 
this country. It is not intended to benefit any particular provider. 
Thus the bill urges the Secretary to implement the bill in a manner 
that is consistent with the timely provision of the benefits but also 
in a manner that allows for competition in the provision of such 
benefits.
  All of us are aware of the importance of communicating with one's 
family and friends, particularly when you are in a time of crisis and 
combat. This is a modest attempt to try and help these men and women 
who are serving. Some of them have already been there for a very long 
time. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea in the area for more than 
300 days. Communications with their loved ones at home is obviously a 
very important aspect of preserving family and also communicating with 
friends as well. Modern technology enables our service personnel to 
communicate with their loved ones by phone, and these real-time 
discussions can provide significant emotional and psychological support 
to both the soldier and the family.
  Unfortunately, for some the cost of placing these calls can be 
prohibitively expensive. On March 18, 2003, USA Today reported on the 
high cost of telephone calls from bases in Kuwait:

       It cost one soldier $35 to make two quick phone calls home 
     to his wife.

  Likewise, my office was recently told the story of a Marine corporal 
who didn't have enough money to call his son in the States on his 
birthday.
  Last Friday, I asked the country's telephone companies to commit to 
ensure that families of service personnel don't have their telephone 
lines disconnected due to a short-term inability to pay the costs 
incurred for calls from troops overseas. I also asked for a commitment 
to implement special reduced rates where feasible for telephone calls 
with members of the Armed Forces overseas.
  Madam President, the response has been overwhelming. From the 
smallest companies serving a few hundred customers to the largest of 
companies, around 60 companies have agreed to make these commitments. I 
wish to quote from a few of these letters and I will have many printed 
in the Record at the appropriate time. Some of them are extremely 
touching, believe it or not.
  One that especially got my attention was from the Andrew Telephone 
Company in Andrew, IA. They will not disconnect service from 
servicemen's families for the duration of the war. They write:

       We don't offer long distance, but we will assist 
     subscribers to find the best rates possible. Andrew is a 
     community of 450 and we have 19 young men and women serving 
     at this time. Yours, Mil Cornelius, President.

  Remarkable. Andrew, IA, a community of 450 and they have 19 young men 
and women serving at this time. That is a very wonderful commitment.
  We have commitments from small companies from Andrew Telephone 
Company to Quest, Southern Bell, SBC, Verizon, AT&T, MCI, Sprint. All 
the major corporations in America have also made these commitments. I 
am extremely grateful to them. More importantly, I am sure the service 
men and women and their families all over America are grateful as well.
  Just a couple more: William P. Heaston, vice president of PrairieWave 
Communications in Sioux Falls, SD, wrote:

       I am a retired Army officer, who served in Vietnam and 
     other remote areas. I can assure you that PrairieWave fully 
     appreciates the benefit to morale and military service that 
     the ability to communicate with loved ones brings.

  William E. Morrow, CEO of Grande Communications in San Marcos, TX, 
writes:

       We are proud of our troops and know their families are in 
     need of our support during these difficult times. This is the 
     least we can do in light of their great sacrifice for our 
     country.

  All of them make statements along those lines.
  OmniTel Communications:

       We will also be providing cash credits as a donation on the 
     billing, which have yet to be determined, of these families 
     later this year to help defray other costs they may have 
     incurred.
       OmniTel Communications supports our Armed Forces in its 
     critical action and wish the very best to all Americans who 
     have to make very serious decisions for the future of our 
     great country.
       Ronald Laudner, CEO, OmniTel Communications, Nora Springs, 
     IA.

  I appreciate the overwhelming response from the major corporations 
and the smallest telephone companies in America. Obviously, as I said, 
the men and women who are serving in harm's way as we speak will also 
be grateful.
  I also want to state the obvious to the men and women serving in the 
most dire and dangerous situations and cannot make a phone call now. 
They will be rotated out and they will be in places where they will be 
able to do so, and those are the ones who I am sure their families will 
want to hear from urgently.
  I thank my colleagues for this bill. It will go to the other body. We 
will have,

[[Page 8013]]

I think, a brief period of time for the Department of Defense to make 
whatever input they would like to have in this legislation. I hope we 
can pass it as quickly as possible and send it to the President. I 
thank my friend, Senator Allen, and I thank especially Senator 
Chambliss, who is chairman of our Personnel Subcommittee, who has been 
very much involved in this issue as well.
  I reserve the remainder of my time.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a 
representative sample of responses I received from telephone companies, 
large and small, throughout the country, and a list of all of the 
companies that have responded to my request.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     From: Mil Cornelius [[email protected]]
     Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 7:06 p.m.
     To: Bailey, Bill (Commerce)
     Subject: McCain Request
       Andrew Telephone Company, Andrew, IA will not disconnect 
     service from Servicemen's families for the duration of the 
     war. We do not offer long distance, but will assist 
     subscribers to find the best rates possible.
       Andrew is a community of 450, and we have 19 young men and 
     women serving at this time.
           Yours,
                                                   Milt Cornelius,
     President.
                                  ____

     From: Ronald Laudner Jr. [[email protected]]
     Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:48 a.m.
     To: Bailey, Bill (Commerce)
     Subject: Senator McCain's Request
       Mr. Bailey: Omni Tel Communications will do our best to 
     determine who each of the families are that have given of 
     themselves to defend our country. If we can garner the 
     information on which families are affected, and I might add 
     that with the number of communities we serve and the 
     geographical proximity to several different companies of the 
     armed forces this will be a large task, we will concur with 
     the request made by Senator McCain.
       We also will be providing cash credits as a donation on the 
     billing, which have yet to be determined, of these families 
     later this year to help defray other costs they may have 
     incurred.
       Omni Tel Communications supports our armed forces in this 
     critical action and wish the very best to all Americans who 
     have to make very serious decisions for the future of our 
     great country.
           Sincerely,

                                               Ronald Laudner,

                                     CEO, Omni Tel Communications,
     Nora Springs, IA.
                                  ____

     From: Abbott Jr., Herschel L.
     Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 6:10 p.m.
     To: Bailey, Bill (Commerce)
       BellSouth is continuing to study the feasibility of 
     implementing customer specific pricing plans to provide 
     discounts for families to communicate with members of the 
     military serving overseas. We will provide an update on the 
     status of these efforts as soon as possible.
       I hope this responds to Senator McCain's inquiry.
           Kindest regards,
     Herschel L. Abbott, Jr.
                                  ____



                                                          MCI,

                                      Ashburn, VA, March 25, 2003.
     Hon. John McCain,
     Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, 
         Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC.
       Dear Chairman McCain: MCI shares your desire to support our 
     military personnel and their families during these difficult 
     times. We also understand how important communications are to 
     our service men and women and their families. On March 21, 
     2003, MCI reinstated its military personnel collections 
     policy that was last used during the Afghanistan deployment. 
     This policy allows MCI to negotiate very liberal deferred 
     payment arrangements designed to meet the needs of the 
     military members and their families.
       MCI is also examining the possibility of special discounts 
     to make it easier for our service personnel to communicate 
     with their loved ones.
       MCI is proud to support our troops.
           Sincerely,
     Wayne B. Huyard.
                                  ____



                                                         AT&T,

                                   Morristown, NJ, March 24, 2003.
     Hon. John McCain,
     U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McCain: Like all Americans, AT&T strongly 
     supports the efforts our Armed Services personnel undertake 
     on our nation's behalf in times of peace and in times of war. 
     That support has evolved into a long tradition at AT&T of 
     close cooperation with the United States government to 
     provide the men and women who serve in our military the best 
     telecommunications services in the world. As I write this 
     letter, AT&T is providing service to sailors, marines, 
     soldiers, and airmen on virtually every major U.S. military 
     base worldwide and on every Navy ship at sea.
       That tradition continues as AT&T now steps up to the 
     challenge of providing communications services to our 
     nation's troops deployed in the conflict with Iraq. As part 
     of that effort, earlier this week AT&T announced that it 
     would donate 160,000 prepaid phone cards worth $3 million to 
     the USO for use by U.S. troops fighting the war with Iraq. 
     This continues AT&T's tradition of donating service dating 
     back to Operation Desert Storm as well as the Balkan 
     conflict.
       Today, from United States military bases in Kuwait, service 
     men and women can call home in a number of convenient and 
     cost-effective ways, including through the use of prepaid 
     cards, standard calling cards, commercial credit cards, and 
     collect calling. Special military prepaid card rates, for 
     instance, allow military personnel to call the United States 
     for 22 cents to 30 cents per minute with no surcharge per 
     call. In addition, our special Global Military Saver Plus 
     card, which has been heavily promoted to military personnel, 
     is available at $0.50 per minute with no per-call surcharge 
     and a monthly fee of only $1 for each month in which it is 
     used. On a promotional basis, AT&T has also lowered the cost 
     of calling from military bases in Kuwait to the United States 
     using standard calling cards, commercial credit cards, and 
     collect calling to 50 cents per minute with a maximum per 
     call surcharge of $1.50 and, in some cases, no surcharge at 
     all. Ship-to-shore calling is also available aboard Navy 
     ships at rates of between $1 and $3 per minute, reflecting 
     unique cost and capacity issues.
       The retail rates for the military prepaid cards and ship-
     to-shore service are set by the Army Air Force Exchange 
     Service (AAFES) and Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM) based on 
     rates set by AT&T in contracts with both AAFES and NEXCOM. 
     Absent some unforeseen and extraordinary request from AAFES 
     or NEXCOM that would materially increase our infrastructure 
     costs, AT&T will not increase the underlying contractual 
     rates for these services to AAFES and NEXCOM for the 
     remainder of the year and through 2004. This commitment 
     applies for calling from American military bases in the 
     region, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, and from Navy 
     ships engaged in this action. Additionally, for the duration 
     of large scale armed hostilities in Iraq and for a period of 
     3 months thereafter, AT&T will not increase its special 
     promotional rates for calling from military bases in Kuwait 
     using standard calling cards, commercial credit cards, and 
     collect calling.
       AT&T is also working with AAFES to determine service 
     requirements going forward as events play out in the region, 
     especially Iraq. Of course, we do not provide service to U.S. 
     military personnel in Iraq today, and do not know the full 
     circumstances under which we may be called to do so. Whatever 
     the circumstances, however, we will, working with AAFES, use 
     our best efforts to provide the men and women who serve in 
     our military in Iraq with the lowest reasonable calling rates 
     possible.
       AT&T is committed to bringing calling services to our 
     troops as quickly as possible in Iraq and elsewhere around 
     the world. As the number of U.S. troops has grown in the 
     Persian Gulf region, AT&T teams have worked around the clock 
     to meet the communications needs of those troops. That work 
     is ahead of schedule, and likely to be expanded under the 
     direction of the U.S. military, which determines equipment 
     deployment plans. As those deployment plans are finalized, we 
     will do all we can to bring service on line with the 
     reliability and quality that consumers rightfully have come 
     to expect from AT&T.
       Senator, AT&T is honored to be able to help and support our 
     U.S. troops during the conflict in Iraq. As President of AT&T 
     Consumer Services, the unit of AT&T responsible for providing 
     personal communications services to military service 
     personnel around the world, I can assure you that, in keeping 
     with its finest traditions, AT&T remains dedicated to 
     connecting our troops with the people they love back home.
           Best regards,
                                                     John Polumbo,
     President and CEO.
                                  ____


          Telephone Companies that Responded to McCain Letter

     Alenco Communications, Inc.
     All West Communications
     American Discount Telecom
     Andrew Telephone Company
     AT&T
     ATX Communications Inc.
     BellSouth
     Bentleyville Communications Corp.
     Call America
     Cbeyond
     CC Communications
     Choice One
     Citizens Telephone Co.
     Coastal Communications
     Cox Communications
     Covad
     Cox Communications
     Cunningham Telephone Company
     Deerfield Farmers Telephone Co.
     DFT Communications

[[Page 8014]]

     EPIK Communications
     Eschelon Telecom
     Farmers Telephone Company
     FairPoint Communications
     Focal Communications
     GCI
     Grande Communications
     Green Hill Telephone Companies
     Hamilton Telecommunication
     Home Telephone Co.
     InterBel Telephone
     Iowa Telecom
     ITC DeltaCom, Inc.
     Jefferson Telephone Co.
     Jordan-Soldier Telephone Co.
     KMC Telecom
     LecStar Telecom Inc.
     Le-Ru Telephone Company
     MCI
     Monroe Telephone
     New Edge Network, Inc.
     New Edge Networks
     Nii Communications
     Nortex Communications Co.
     NW Iowa Telephone Co.
     OmniTel Communications
     One Eighty
     PacWest
     Pae Tec
     Peace Valley Telephone Company
     Pigeon Telephone Co.
     Qwest
     Prairie Wave
     Ritter Communications Holdings, Inc.
     Rothsay Telephone Co.
     SBC
     Sprint
     Supra Telecom
     Talk America, Inc.
     TDS Metrocom
     The Rainier Group
     TXU Communications
     USLEC Communications
     VeriSign
     Verizon
     Walnut Telephone Company
     Wilson Telephone Co.
     Xspedius Communications.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. ALLEN. Madam President, first, I very much commend Senator McCain 
for his leadership in introducing this very important, thoughtful, and 
considerate measure, S. 718. I am proud to be a cosponsor of it with 
him, Senator Chambliss, and others.
  The purpose of this bill is to support the morale of the brave men 
and women of the U.S. armed services who are stationed outside the 
United States, directly supporting military operations in Afghanistan 
or Iraq, by giving them the ability to call their loved ones without an 
expense to them.
  When you look at the findings, they all make very good sense, 
especially that

     telephone contact with family and friends provides 
     significant emotional and psychological support to them and 
     helps to sustain and improve morale.

  As you read the language of the bill, it all makes great sense as a 
matter of legislation. To give you an idea how it might have an impact 
on real people and real lives, and also the lives that have been lost, 
I will refer to an article today in The Washington Post, where a young 
man from Virginia lost his life. This young man's name is SGT Donald C. 
May, Jr. His father had fought in Vietnam. Young Mr. May joined the 
Marines as soon as he graduated from high school at Meadowbrook High 
School in Chesterfield County, VA. He reenlisted and eventually became 
a tank commander. His father received two Purple Hearts as a tank 
commander in Vietnam. Unfortunately, his father died in a boating 
accident while fishing a few years back.
  At any rate, SGT May moved and bounced around for several years. He 
went to North Carolina, where he met his wife Deborah, and eventually 
they went off to California where he was stationed. He left in January 
for the Middle East, and it was then, in January, that his mother last 
talked to him on the phone. As his mother recalled in this article, he 
said, ``Mom, this is what I have trained for all my life. This is what 
I am meant to do. I am ready.''
  He talked a bit later with his wife and he told her that he had 
decided not to reenlist because he wanted to be home more with his two 
children, Mariah, almost 7, and Jack, almost 2. His wife Deborah is 
pregnant with their third child, a son, to be named William. Mrs. May, 
the mother, said her daughter-in-law was treated twice in the last few 
days for premature labor. The baby is due in mid-May.
  Brenda May's last communication with her son arrived a week ago. It 
was a letter dated March 3.
  So when you think of this story of this brave, courageous hero, who 
made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for our safety, for our 
freedom, for our security, and to liberate the people of Iraq, what a 
gift he has given to this country--his life, his future, to be holding 
his baby boy William, to be with his children as they grow up. That is 
the greatest gift he could give to this country, and I surely hope the 
people of Iraq, when liberated, will also get down on their knees and 
thank God for people of this man's courage.
  When you listen to the story of him last talking on the telephone to 
his mother and wife in January, the last communication in a letter 
dated March 3, the reality is that was his last communication.
  I know that you, Madam President, and all Americans can readily 
understand how this measure would have had an impact. If he could get 
to a telephone to actually have his mother, to have his wife, hear his 
voice and have him hear their voices, to tell him that they love him, 
for them to tell him how proud they are for what he is doing. 
Obviously, they would be asking him to stay safe. But there would have 
been the ending on that telephone call undoubtedly where his mother, 
his wife, and his children would have said: I love you.
  While this measure looks like $40 a month and a telephone call, in 
some cases that may be the last contact. That is why this measure is so 
important, and I commend Senator McCain and all of my colleagues for 
introducing it. I urge my colleagues to pass it very shortly.
  I am also hopeful that later this week we can take up S. 721. This is 
a measure I have introduced with Senators McCain, Chambliss, Graham of 
South Carolina, Warner, Burns, Miller, and Stevens to expand the combat 
zone exclusions and to provide tax exclusions to personnel serving in 
Cuba and the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  This legislation will help expand the combat zone tax exclusion to 
include the period in transit to qualified combat zones and to provide 
full income tax exclusion to other personnel. The pay for these 
personnel would not be, with the passage of this bill, subject to 
Federal or State taxes for any month in which they serve in one of 
these areas. The legislation also provides tax breaks for individuals 
serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, the global war on terrorism, in 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Horn of Africa. If this measure were to 
pass, the pay for these personnel would not be subject to Federal or 
State taxes for any month in which they serve in one of these areas.
  As a matter of past precedent, in 1995, Congress passed legislation 
designating Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Macedonia as comprising 
qualified hazardous duty areas. Military personnel serving there on 
peacekeeping duties are eligible for the same tax exclusion as 
personnel serving in combat zones.
  I also point out that officers do not receive a full income tax 
exclusion. Any income above the level of the highest enlisted rank is 
subject to Federal and State taxes. This makes absolutely no sense to 
me whatsoever, and I know that Senator Chambliss has another measure 
that will provide parity between officers serving in the Guard and 
Reserve.
  The other point of this matter is that the pay of personnel in 
transit to a combat zone is subject to income taxes until they actually 
cross into the combat zone area.
  What we are seeing is some of the ships are steaming at full speed 
when otherwise not necessary in an effort to give personnel as much 
tax-excluded income as possible. My view is that as soon as those 
battleship groups leave the ports, whether it is Wilmington, Norfolk, 
or San Diego, that is when the combat zone exclusion ought to apply. I 
think this is a commonsense, equitable matter. I think we should not be 
having our families back home worried about paying taxes when their 
brave loved one--whether that may be their husband, wife, son, 
daughter, mother or father--is leaving home. They should not be having 
to worry about

[[Page 8015]]

paying taxes when they are serving, whether they are Reserves, Guard, 
or active military, in these areas supporting this operation for our 
security and also to liberate Iraq.
  I urge my colleagues to pass S. 718, the Troops Phone Home Free Act 
of 2003. It is the proper and compassionate thing to do. It also 
expresses our gratitude and appreciation not just to the troops but the 
loved ones home who need to have that reassurance and the pleasure of 
hearing their loved one's voice.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Chafee). The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Troops 
Phone Home Free Act introduced by my colleague from Arizona, Senator 
McCain. This legislation would allow troops who are on the front lines 
in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to place phone calls to 
their loved ones without cost to them or their families. It would 
provide prepaid phone cards for the soldiers and provide more phones in 
the Middle East and in Afghanistan so our troops can have more 
flexibility to communicate with their families.
  This is an important measure not only for the morale of our brave men 
and women who are overseas fighting in a war but also to their families 
and loved ones who are sacrificing dearly for their country.
  There is nobody in this great body that we serve in who has a greater 
appreciation for a soldier to have the ability to pick up the phone and 
call his or her family than Senator McCain. I admire and respect him 
for his service to our country, and I am very pleased to be in support 
of his bill to make sure that every member of our Armed Forces serving 
in Iraq today, in Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, has the opportunity 
to communicate with their families.
  We think of our brave men and women and the great job they are 
doing--which they are and I am so proud of all of them--but we have to 
also remember they have families back home. They have friends and loved 
ones here who are making just as big a sacrifice as they are making by 
serving our country. I think it is only right and fair that we give 
them as many benefits as we possibly can, and this is simply one more 
way of saying we appreciate the great work they are doing.
  I also rise in support of S. 721, which is Senator Allen's bill to 
extend the combat zone where our men and women are serving. Again, from 
a Guard and Reserve standpoint, we are calling up these men and women 
on a much more regular basis today than ever before, and it is 
extremely important that we show support for all of our men and women 
serving in combat, active duty, Guard, and Reserve. This provides some 
equity in the payment to all of those men and women who are serving in 
combat in any part of the world to which they are called. So I do rise 
in strong support of Senator Allen's bill.
  I also rise to introduce legislation, along with my colleagues 
Senator McCain, Senator Graham of South Carolina as well as Senator 
Allen, that I believe will be a positive step in assisting commanders 
in the Reserve and the National Guard. The men and women who serve our 
country in the Reserve and National Guard make up a critical component 
of an All-Volunteer Force and have chosen to put their lives on the 
line for the freedom of their families and their country, and we thank 
them. We continue to be on our knees in prayer for their continued 
safety and for their families as they serve around the world. The 
legislation I bring to the floor today represents a small step in 
recognizing the sacrifices that specifically the commanding officers in 
the Reserve and the National Guard are making as we speak. This 
initiative will provide a well-deserved benefit to at least 500 
reservists and 1,500 National Guardsmen. Currently, National Guard and 
Reserve commanders are not entitled to command responsibility pay, even 
though they serve in a similar capacity to their active duty 
counterparts. This bill will allow for an added benefit of $50 per 
month for junior officers, $100 a month for mid-level officers, and 
$150 a month for Guard and Reserve senior officers who serve as 
commanders. This pay will apply whether they are full-time wing 
commanders of a Reserve component airlift wing or whether they are 
serving as a commander in an inactive duty training capacity. The 
purpose of this bill is to create further equity between our active and 
Reserve components. The amount of money involved is relatively small, 
but this measure serves as a powerful symbol that we value the 
contribution and sacrifice of our citizen soldiers stationed around the 
world serving the United States of America and the cause of freedom.
  There is one special story about which I would like to speak very 
briefly. It is a story on the front page of virtually every major 
newspaper in America this morning. It is a story about CPT Chris Carter 
in the United States Army, a young captain from Watkinsville, GA, of 
whom I am so extremely proud, a story about Captain Carter who risked 
his life on a bridge over the Euphrates River, which was under siege, a 
bridge which they were seeking to have explosives removed from so we 
could take that bridge to make sure our troops ultimately got safely 
across the bridge. It is a story of CPT Chris Carter who, during the 
midst of a firefight, saw some innocent civilians, Iraqi civilians, 
crossing that bridge, coming over to the side he and his troops were 
on. He saw innocent civilians being caught in that firefight and one 
man being killed and a woman, an Iraqi woman, bleeding and pleading for 
help. Captain Carter got off of his vehicle, rushed to the bridge, 
behind his vehicle so that he could have some cover, until he got 
behind an iron post on that bridge. After he got behind the iron post 
on that bridge and under fierce fire coming from the other side, he 
risked his own life to go to that Iraqi woman and to pull her to safety 
and secure medication for her and ultimately have her transported to a 
medical facility where she is being treated.
  I am so proud of every one of our men and women who are fighting in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom today. But it is men and women like Chris 
Carter of whom I am especially proud. He is not just a great Georgian, 
he is a great American and a great member of the United States Army.
  I had a great conversation with his father this morning. His father 
obviously is extremely proud of him. He is one of those young men who 
will be able to take advantage of these benefits we have been talking 
about here today, Senator McCain, Senator Allen, and myself. He is one 
of the young men who will be able to take that phone card under Senator 
McCain's bill and call home to his family to tell them exactly what did 
happen and let them have an opportunity to tell him how very proud of 
him they are.
  Again, I commend Senator McCain. I appreciate very much the strong 
support of Senator Allen and Senator Graham as we introduce these 
measures to try to make life a little more pleasant for our troops as 
they are separated from their families, and also to make sure their 
families have the opportunity to communicate with them, and have the 
financial resources to continue to provide for their families while 
they are serving in combat areas so that they can concentrate on doing 
the job they are sent to do and know that their families are being well 
taken care of, and know they are going to have the ability to 
communicate by telephone with their families on a regular basis.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the Senator from Maine.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I commend the Senator from Arizona for 
his initiative.
  I ask unanimous consent I be added as a cosponsor of his legislation, 
the Troops Phone Home Free Act. I think it is a wonderful initiative.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. COLLINS. I also commend the Senator from Georgia, who heads the 
Personnel Subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee, with whom I am

[[Page 8016]]

very privileged to serve. He brings great leadership to the effort. I 
am proud to be a member of his subcommittee.


                             Death Gratuity

  Later tonight I am hopeful the Senate will consider legislation, S. 
704, which I introduced last week with my colleagues on the Armed 
Services Committee, the chairman, Senator John Warner, and my 
colleague, Senator John McCain. I recognize the contributions and 
cosponsorship of Senators Ben Nelson and George Allen. The legislation 
we have introduced will send an important message to our troops who are 
engaged in combat, even as we speak, that our Nation is so grateful for 
their service.
  Our bill would raise the amount paid to the families of military 
personnel killed while on active duty. It would increase it from $6,000 
to $12,000. This payment, which is known as the death gratuity, would 
be paid retroactive to September 11, 2001, so that the troops who have 
been killed in the battle against terrorism would also be eligible for 
this doubled benefit.
  As are all of my colleagues, I am very saddened by the loss of 
American life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The young men and women of 
our military represent the very best our Nation has to offer. They do 
not join the military for monetary gain nor to have a comfortable 
lifestyle. They serve our Nation out of a sense of patriotism that 
should make each and every American proud. The mercy they are showing 
even today to Iraqi prisoners of war is testament to the strength of 
character that is the core of our military values. In many cases, we 
ask our own troops to take additional risks in order to avoid injuring 
or killing innocent civilians. That they do this without question or 
regret speaks well not only of our military but of our Nation.
  When the Commander in Chief sends our troops into harm's way, we hope 
and pray each and every one of them will come back home unharmed. While 
we know this will not be possible, that knowledge does not lessen our 
shock and our sadness when we learn of the loss of lives.
  My State of Maine has experienced two such losses since the war 
began. Last Saturday, I attended a memorial mass in Windsor, ME, in 
honor of the life and sacrifice of CPT Jay Aubin. CPT Jay Aubin and CPL 
Brian Kennedy, both proud members of the United States Marine Corps, 
perished in a helicopter crash in the Kuwaiti desert in the very first 
few days of the conflict. I met with the parents of both these brave 
marines, both of whom were present at this memorial mass last Saturday. 
Hundreds of Mainers gathered to pay tribute to the sacrifice of these 
brave marines and their families.
  As I stand on the floor of the Senate, I once again want to assure 
their families we honor and recognize their service and their 
sacrifice. When we send a young man or woman into harm's way, our 
Nation has in return a sacred obligation to them and to their families. 
We must ensure they go forth with the utter and complete confidence, 
should the worst happen, should they be called upon to make the 
ultimate sacrifice, that their country will care for their families and 
honor their service. The death gratuity is a small token, but it 
assists the grieving families with their immediate financial needs. 
There are a variety of other programs that provide for longer term 
support, but in the initial hours and days after a family has endured 
such a terrible loss, these funds help to alleviate monetary concerns. 
This benefit is commonly provided within 72 hours to the family of the 
service member who is killed while on active duty.
  The last time the death gratuity was raised was in 1991 during the 
period of the gulf war when it was doubled from $3,000 to $6,000. With 
more than a decade having passed, it is time for Congress to move 
forward and increase this sum in recognition of those who are today 
fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in the war against terrorism. 
It is the least we can do to honor their sacrifice. I offer this 
legislation in tribute to the families of those whose loved ones are 
today engaged in combat in the Persian Gulf. Too often we forget the 
sacrifices they make so that their loved one, their husband, wife, 
father, mother, brother, or sister, can serve our Nation. They are 
asked to accept long deployments and frequent moves while at the same 
time providing their loved one with the support they need to do their 
jobs.
  Truly, what these families do is heroic. Passage of this legislation 
will send a clear and strong message to them that this Congress and 
this Nation is grateful for their sacrifice. Again, it is my hope we 
will pass this legislation by unanimous consent later this evening. In 
the meantime, my thoughts are with our troops as they fight in the 
battles in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in the war against terrorism, and I 
pray they will soon return home in victory.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all time be 
yielded back and we move to consideration of the legislation, S. 718.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read 
the third time and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 718

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Troops Phone Home Free Act 
     of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to support the morale of the 
     brave men and women of the United States armed services 
     stationed outside the United States who are directly 
     supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan (as 
     determined by the Secretary of Defense) by giving them the 
     ability to place calls to their loved ones without expense to 
     them.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The armed services of the United States are the finest 
     in the world.
       (2) The members of the armed services are bravely placing 
     their lives in danger to protect the security of the people 
     of the United States and to advance the cause of freedom in 
     Iraq.
       (3) Their families and loved ones are making sacrifices at 
     home in support of the members of the armed services abroad.
       (4) Telephone contact with family and friends provides 
     significant emotional and psychological support to them and 
     helps to sustain and improve morale.

     SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
                   BENEFIT.

       (a) In General.--As soon as possible after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     provide, wherever practicable, prepaid phone cards, or an 
     equivalent telecommunications benefit which includes access 
     to telephone service, to members of the armed forces 
     stationed outside the United States who are directly 
     supporting military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan (as 
     determined by the Secretary) to enable them to make telephone 
     calls to family and friends in the United States without cost 
     to the member.
       (b) Monthly Amount.--The value of the benefit provided by 
     subsection (a) shall not exceed $40 per month per person.
       (c) End of Program.--The program established by subsection 
     (a) shall terminate on the date that is 60 days after the 
     date on which the Secretary determines that Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom has ended.
       (d) Funding.--
       (1) Use of existing resources.--In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall maximize the use of existing 
     Department of Defense telecommunications programs and 
     capabilities, private support organizations, private entities 
     offering free or reduced-cost services, and programs to 
     enhance morale and welfare.
       (2) Use of appropriated funds.--In addition to resources 
     described in paragraph (1) and notwithstanding any limitation 
     on the expenditure or obligation of appropriated amounts, the 
     Secretary may use available funds appropriated to or for the 
     use of the Department of Defense that are not otherwise 
     obligated or expended to carry out this section.

     SEC. 5. DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT.

       The Secretary of Defense shall work with telecommunications 
     providers to facilitate

[[Page 8017]]

     the deployment of additional telephones for use in calling 
     the United States under this Act as quickly as practicable, 
     consistent with the availability of resources. Consistent 
     with the timely provision of telecommunications benefits 
     under this Act, the Secretary should carry out this section 
     and section 4 in a manner that allows for competition in the 
     provision of such benefits.

     SEC. 6. NO COMPROMISE OF MILITARY MISSION.

       The Secretary of Defense shall not take any action under 
     this Act that would compromise the military objectives or 
     mission of the Department of Defense.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and I move 
to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Alexander). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________