[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14820-14822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING APPRECIATION OF CONGRESS TO THE FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF ARMED 
                                 FORCES

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 295) expressing the deepest 
appreciation of Congress to the families of members of the United 
States Armed Forces.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 295

       Whereas more than 2,000,000 Americans are demonstrating 
     their devotion to the United States and freedom by serving in 
     the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas there are a multitude of family members, including 
     mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses, and children, supporting 
     each member of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas, even in peacetime, the family of a member of the 
     Armed Forces makes concessions given the inherent dangers of 
     military service and the frequent relocations resulting in 
     disruption of everyday routine;
       Whereas, during wartime, family members endure increased 
     sacrifices, forgo time with their loved one, and face 
     increased worry and uncertainty when their loved one serves 
     extended tours overseas or engages in enhanced training 
     activities;
       Whereas an increasing number of family members have taken 
     on volunteer responsibilities in organizations associated 
     with the Armed Forces;
       Whereas the family of a member of the Armed Forces wounded 
     in action willingly accepts the additional role of caregiver, 
     even when it requires postponement of personal goals;
       Whereas the families of members of the Armed Forces serve 
     as a pillar of strength and encouragement for those serving 
     the interests of the United States at home and abroad; and
       Whereas the families of members of the Armed Forces play a 
     critical role in providing emotional support and readjustment 
     assistance as members transition from military life to 
     civilian life: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress expresses its deepest appreciation 
     to the families, both immediate and extended, of members of 
     the United States Armed Forces for the unwavering support, 
     both physical and emotional, that family members give their 
     loved ones while they answer the call to serve their country 
     and keep the United States safe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Connecticut?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Current 
Resolution 295, which expresses the deep appreciation of Congress to 
the families of members of the United States Armed Services.

                              {time}  1500

  Over 2 million American men and women are serving in the Armed Forces 
today. These military men and women have parents, spouses, and children 
who are being asked to sacrifice their time with their loved one. Given 
the high operational tempo, these families have faced continued and 
sustained separation from their servicemember, many of whom have been 
deployed more than one time.
  Living without the support of a beloved servicemember can be a daily 
struggle, and especially so for young children. Even so, our military 
families rise to the challenge with incredible strength and 
perseverance. These families are proud to know that the sacrifices that 
they and their loved one makes are to serve the country they love.
  When a member returns home, it is our military families who are there 
for warriors. They provide our first line of defense to ensure that 
warriors who are wounded or need assistance receive the help that they 
have earned and deserve. Families are often the first to identify the 
needs of their loved one and to help ensure that those needs are met. 
Many families have made tremendous sacrifices to support their wounded 
warrior, often giving up their own personal goals to ensure that our 
wounded warriors are well cared for.
  Military families are also unsurpassed in their devotion to their 
military communities. We depend on military family members who 
volunteer to support units and other families. As the demand has only 
increased over time with repeated deployments, the responsibilities 
that these family members have undertaken has also increased tenfold. 
These are Americans who answer the call in their hearts to serve the 
men and women who protect our homeland. Their strength, compassion, and 
unselfish sacrifice truly epitomize all that is good about the American 
spirit.
  House Concurrent Resolution 295 is our way in the Congress of 
expressing our sincerest appreciation to our military families for the 
unwavering support that they give to the men and women who serve to 
keep the United States safe. I urge my colleagues to join me in support 
of this very important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 295, which expresses 
the deepest appreciation of Congress to the families of members of the 
United States Armed Forces. I would like to thank Mr. Bilirakis of 
Florida for introducing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute today to the force behind 
the force: the military family. It has long been known that the 
military services recruit individuals but we retain families. This has 
never been more true or more critical than it is today.
  The support our troops receive from their loving families--mothers, 
fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, and children--is intangible but it 
is nothing less than a powerful force multiplier.
  Today millions of Americans have one or more family members serving 
in the Armed Forces. These incredible families attempt to lead normal 
lives while their loved ones stand in harm's way, fulfilling our 
Nation's oath to serve and protect. The strength of the military family 
is astounding. Military parents give their sons and daughters to our 
Nation and pray relentlessly for their safe return. They look forward 
to every letter and phone call, while fearing the ringing of the phone 
and the doorbell at the same time.
  As we celebrate military families, let us not forget the sacrifices 
of the children. Military children are special in

[[Page 14821]]

their strength and their maturity. They do not always have 
``hometowns,'' but they have a heightened sense of family both in the 
traditional sense and in the special characteristics of the military 
community.
  Military families have an uncanny resilience. They are some of the 
strongest citizens in this country, and I am privileged to recognize 
them not only today but every day.
  I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution. 
Without the support of our military families, the Armed Forces would 
not be the incredible power they are today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend and colleague and leader, the distinguished chairman of the 
Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).
  Mr. SKELTON. I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for his 
leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, we recall that our Nation has been at war for over 6 
years. It is often in times of conflict that our uniformed services are 
called upon, as in wartime now, to extraordinary duty.
  It is their families that we seem from time to time to forget, but 
the support of their families is so very important. They are a very 
special group. Military families regularly face months of separation, 
one, two, three, and in some cases, four deployments. Children being 
born--I recall, Mr. Speaker, not all that long ago coming into port and 
then helicoptered out to the USS Harry S. Truman and seeing a good 
number of sailors being allowed to leave the ship first to meet their 
family and to meet the newborn children of those families that they had 
never seen before. Stories of children being born, of precious moments 
like graduations and birthdays being separated.
  I think it is important that we in Congress recognize the importance 
and give moral support and comfort and thanks to those military 
families who bond together in times of crisis and help each other. And 
I think it's incumbent upon every American not only to say thanks and 
show appreciation to those we see in uniform but to do the same thing 
for the spouses and the children in those wonderful families.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time 
as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
295, which I introduced. I would like to thank Chairman Skelton and 
Ranking Member Hunter for allowing this resolution to come to the 
floor. I also want to thank Mr. Courtney and, of course, Mr. Rogers.
  Among the many things that make our Nation so great is our strong and 
valiant military. The strength, courage, and dedication of the men and 
women in uniform keep us safe at home from threats abroad. While 
Congress rightfully has and continues to recognize these men and women, 
so too should we honor their family members who serve as constant 
pillars of strength for them.
  Behind each and every one of the more than 2 million individuals 
serving in the United States Armed Forces is a multitude of family 
members, be it mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, aunts, 
uncles, extended family, offering encouragement and providing the 
emotional and physical support our defenders need to successfully 
protect our Nation. These family members make daily sacrifices as they 
forgo time with their loved ones and face increased worry and 
uncertainty as members of the Armed Forces serve extended tours abroad 
and engage in more frequent training missions.
  Even under the most difficult circumstances, when one of our soldiers 
is wounded in action, these families willingly take on the role of 
caregiver. They selflessly postpone their personal goals and rearrange 
their lives to meet the physical and emotional needs of their loved 
ones as they transition back to civilian life.
  Our members of the Armed Forces are able to exhibit the level of 
strength and devotion that is their trademark, in part because of the 
network of support that they know they have at home. That is why I have 
introduced H. Con. Res. 295, which recognizes the integral role the 
families of our servicemembers play in defense of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and privilege that I rise today 
to express my deepest appreciation to the immediate and extended 
families of the members of the Armed Forces for their unwavering 
support that they provide to our Nation's heroes. I urge all my 
colleagues to do the same by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 295, which takes the initiative in extending the appreciation 
of Congress to both the members of the United States Armed Forces and 
their families.
  First, I want to commend the chief sponsor, Mr. Bilirakis of Florida, 
for his great efforts in introducing this important bill.
  As a former member of our United States Armed Forces, I want to 
personally convey my gratitude to Congressman Bilirakis and all of the 
co-sponsors for bringing this vital resolution forth. It is an example 
of the Congress' dedication to those serving our country around the 
world and our efforts to assist their families in various ways.
  Mr. Speaker, with increased conflicts around the world needing our 
armed forces' attention, the amount of our active troops has increased 
exponentially. According to the Department of Defense (DOD), we 
currently have over 2 million personnel serving. Of that number, there 
are more than 700,000 households with at least one parent deployed on 
active military duty. While deployed, the remaining family provides 
much needed support to their military members through correspondence 
and packages. Yet, many times, these families do not have the resources 
to provide the full support they desire. Fortunately, the Department of 
Defense offers assistance through numerous programs. For example, the 
Military Homefront aids service members, whether active or retired, and 
their families with DOD Quality of Life programs. Even with the 
available programs, more programs are needed in order to provide for 
both the immediate and extended families of our current and past 
military personnel.
  In response to this growing need, Congressman Bilirakis introduced H. 
Con. Res. 295 on February 13, 2008. This includes not only the support 
of the United States Armed Forces, but also support of their families 
through any physical and emotional ordeals that may arise as their 
loved ones devote their lives to their country. As the Representative 
for American Samoa, I realize the great importance of supporting our 
military families. The Samoan people take great pride in serving our 
nation and have shown it through our high recruitment numbers. Yet 
regrettably, we also have the highest casualty rate per capita. Just a 
few weeks ago, a son of American Samoa, Lt. Col. Max Galea'i was killed 
while supporting combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. Last 
week, I was honored to accompany Max's family, his wife Evelyn and four 
beautiful children, to American Samoa where Max was laid to rest. The 
42-year old commander of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines from the Marine 
Corps Base Hawaii represented the epitome of a proud military member, 
and for his dedication and for the dedication of all our service men 
and women and their families, we must support this bill.
  For the sake of their commitment and sacrifice, we must honor our 
United States Armed Forces by supporting those most important to them, 
their families. I urge my colleagues to pass H. Con. Res. 295, and I 
thank you for your support of this very important resolution.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the families of 
members of our United States Armed Forces.
  Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 
295, a concurrent resolution ``expressing the deepest appreciation of 
Congress to the families of members of the United States Armed 
Forces.'' I was proud to add my support to this legislation.
  In northeast Florida, we are honored to live in an area with a large 
community of military members and families. They are a tremendous 
asset, not only to our Nation as a whole, but to our local 
municipalities as well.
  While husbands and wives are serving our Nation all over the world 
through military service, their families are also sacrificing for the 
benefit of our Nation. Their willingness to frequently relocate, 
separate from spouses and parents, and ``face increased worry and 
uncertainty when their loved one serves extended

[[Page 14822]]

tours overseas'' demonstrates their commitment to our Nation. For that 
and more, they deserve our deepest and most grateful thanks.
  Many times these families are not recognized, nor seen in the 
spotlight of our society. While there are no medals awarded to spouses 
or children, their sacrifice and service could not be any more 
distinctive.
  It has been said that families are the fabric from which any strong 
culture is built, and certainly the strength of our military families 
bolsters the foundation of America.
  So it is with great appreciation and sincere thanks that I salute 
some 3 million United States Armed Forces members and their families 
serving our Nation around the world.
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 295.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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