[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16132]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY RELIEF ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced a bill 
with my colleague in the House, Representative Ellen Tauscher, to 
increase the end-strength of the Army. A companion bill was introduced 
in the Senate by Senators Lieberman, Clinton, Reed, Nelson, and 
Salazar. I am grateful to Sen. Lieberman and Rep. Tauscher for their 
leadership on this issue, and to the Third Way organization for its 
recent report on this issue and its help on this bill.
  We are introducing this legislation at a critical time for our 
military. The war in Iraq has put a tremendous strain on our Army, the 
Reserves and on National Guard units that were never intended for such 
long deployments, and ought to be used more effectively for homeland 
security.
  There is deepening concern that our current force requirements cannot 
be sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan without depleting our reserves and 
diminishing our capacity to meet other global threats.
  I am one who believes we have more work to do to thoroughly 
understand these other global threats and the strategies and tactics 
necessary to prepare for the kind of conflict we are facing in Iraq. 
The upcoming Pentagon defense review needs to look at increased troops 
levels in the context of our long-term security needs as well as the 
immediate challenges.
  But in the meantime, the Bush Administration's lack of foresight in 
Iraq has left us with an immediate problem that cannot be ignored. Our 
troops are overstretched--not just in Iraq and Afghanistan but in 117 
other countries around the world. Last year, nine of the Army's ten 
divisions were deployed to, preparing to deploy to, or returning from 
Iraq and Afghanistan. And we continue to rely too heavily on our Guard 
and Reserve.
  Without this bill, we risk asking too much of our men and women in 
uniform who have performed so courageously and sacrificed so much in 
their service to this country. They, future recruits, and the country 
all need to know that we are committed to providing the resources 
necessary to keep our Army strong.
  Let me emphasize that this is not about increasing troops so that 
President Bush can plan for more Iraqs; this is about rebuilding the 
strength of the incredible institution that is the U.S. Army.
  Leadership begins with recognizing reality. Although we may wish we 
had a different starting place, this is the place that we find 
ourselves after much miscalculation and wishful-thinking by the Bush 
Administration.
  So we ask the Administration today to heed our call and to heed the 
call of so many in the military community who understand the importance 
of increasing the Army's end strength. The defense of the United States 
is and must continue to be the first priority of our government.

                          ____________________