[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14088-14089]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-409. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of Louisiana urging Congress to allow immediate 
     family to visit military personnel on extended deployment 
     overseas who are in a rest and relaxation period; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, on April 12, 2007, when Defense Secretary Robert 
     M. Gates announced that all active-duty soldiers currently 
     deployed would see their one-year tour extended to a fifteen 
     months tour, the war-weary Army

[[Page 14089]]

     faced its longest combat tours since World War; and
       Whereas, although Defense Secretary Gates termed this a 
     ``difficult but necessary'' order, many referred to it as the 
     decision that would break the Army because of the chilling 
     effect it would have on the recruiting, retention, and 
     readiness of troops; and
       Whereas, the reunion plans of troops and their families 
     were suddenly placed on hold because of the deployment 
     extension orders; and
       Whereas, such orders unleashed a flood of emotions 
     including feelings of sadness, disappointment, worry, 
     anxiety, anger, stress, and a sense of betrayal or of 
     promises being broken for service men, women, and their 
     families; and
       Whereas, mental health experts agree that deployment 
     extensions are extremely difficult on service members and 
     their families; and
       Whereas, extended deployment submerges our service men, 
     women, and their families under tremendous economic, 
     employment, and emotional sacrifices; and
       Whereas, service men and women do receive a period of rest 
     and relaxation (R&R); and
       Whereas, the continued development of strong family 
     relationships for our service men and women who have repeatly 
     placed themselves in harm's way in the name of freedom, duty, 
     and honor for us and our country should be supported. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to make provisions to allow 
     immediate family to visit military personnel on extended 
     deployment overseas when they are in a period of rest and 
     relaxation (R&R). Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of 
     the United States House of Representatives and to each member 
     of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress.

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