[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 26131-26132]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     VETERANS AND TROOP DEPLOYMENTS

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the contribution 
of our Armed Forces to this great Nation. It is important to reflect on 
the sacrifice and commitment of the brave men and women who have put 
their lives on the line to defend what our Nation stands for--freedom, 
equality, and justice for all Americans.
  Without our veterans, we would not be the free Nation that we are 
today.
  The marines, airmen, and soldiers of Montana have always risen to the 
challenge by fighting overseas and protecting our homeland.
  Over the past 2 weeks 700 members of the first of the 163rd infantry 
battalion of Montana's National Guard returned home after an 18 month 
deployment in Iraq and 250 troops from the first of the 189th aviation 
battalion will return home before the holidays.
  I am extremely proud of these men and women, but I also have great 
concern for them.
  Montana now has the highest percentage of veterans per capita in its 
population than any other state. We also have the highest percentage of 
female veterans in the country, per capita.
  According to the most recent census, the veteran population in 
Montana is 108,476 out of an adult civilian population of 668,651. 
Simply put, veterans, and families of veterans, constitute a 
significant portion of the population in Montana.
  They are our mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, 
and friends who are making sacrifices. I take our Nation's commitment 
to our veterans seriously.
  Many Montanans choose to serve because of the economic situation in 
rural America.
  There is no question that rural States are carrying a huge burden 
when it comes to our current conflicts abroad and these veterans 
deserve proper healthcare.
  I am proud to say that this year the VA Hospital at Fort Harrison, 
Helena, MT and its outpatient clinics have been ranked as the best VA 
medical system in the country; however, the shortfalls that we faced in 
veterans healthcare funding nationwide in 2005 and 2006 are 
discouraging.
  We still need to ensure that those who have given so much for our 
country are granted their due benefits, and treated with respect. Let's 
think big when it comes to providing for our veterans and health care.
  We must fully fund the veterans' health care system and we should 
make spending mandatory in order to ensure that those who have given so 
much to our country are granted their due benefits and are treated with 
respect and thanks.
  Let's think big when it comes to providing for our veterans and 
health care. We must fully fund the Veterans health care system and we 
should make spending mandatory in order to ensure that those who have 
given so much to our country are granted the benefits they deserve.
  Since September 11, 2001, about 80 percent of Montana's National 
Guard members have been deployed to the Middle East, some of them more 
than once. This Monday in Great Falls, MT, members of our 341st space 
wing and Red Horse Squadrons from Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Air 
National Guard will deploy to Iraq.

[[Page 26132]]

  When they return, they should not have to worry about getting health 
care and benefits.
  As we welcome home our new veterans and deploy troops overseas, let 
us remember those who have served honorably in all wars, and pay 
particular attention to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
  The current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have taken the lives of the 
following brave Montanans: SPC Travis Arndt, Great Falls; CPT Michael 
MacKinnon, Helena; PFC Andrew Bedard, Missoula; LCpl Nicholas Bloem, 
Bozeman; SFC Robbie McNary, Lewistown; CPL Raleigh Smith, Troy; LCpl 
Nathan Wood, Great Falls; SSG Aaron Honeyman, Glasgow; LCpl Kane Funke, 
Kalispell; CPL Dean Pratt, Stevensville; PFC Owen D. Witt, Sand 
Springs; 1LT Edward Saltz, Big Fork; PFC Kristofer Stoneisfer, 
Missoula; 1LT Josh Hyland, Missoula.

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