[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24743-24746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 56TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ARMY NATIONAL 
                                 GUARD

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 754) honoring the citizen-soldiers of 
the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania, including the 56th 
Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 
on its return to the United States from deployment in Iraq.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 754

       Whereas the members of the Army National Guard and Air 
     National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania reside throughout 
     the State and come from various communities, backgrounds, and 
     professions;
       Whereas units and members of the Pennsylvania National 
     Guard have been deployed, and are continuously being 
     deployed, in support of United States military operations at 
     home and overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, and dozens of other 
     countries;

[[Page 24744]]

       Whereas one such unit, the 56th Brigade Combat Team 
     (Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is 
     composed of approximately 4,000 citizen-soldiers from 
     throughout the State of Pennsylvania;
       Whereas the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), following a 
     mobilization and deployment to Kosovo in 2003, was placed on 
     Federal active duty for a second overseas mobilization on 
     September 19, 2008, and deployed to Iraq on January 15, 2009;
       Whereas during the deployment of the 56th Brigade Combat 
     Team (Stryker) in Iraq, the brigade was primarily engaged in 
     convoy security, force protection, provincial reconstruction, 
     and base operations missions; and
       Whereas the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) returned to 
     the United States and demobilized in September 2009, upon 
     completion of one year of service in support of military 
     operations in Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its gratitude to the members of the Army 
     National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of 
     Pennsylvania and their families for their service and 
     sacrifice on behalf of the United States;
       (2) commends the members of the 56th Brigade Combat Team 
     (Stryker) of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard on the 
     completion of their most-recent deployment to Iraq; and
       (3) recognizes the achievements of the members of the 56th 
     Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), and all other formerly and 
     presently deployed Pennsylvania Army National Guard and Air 
     National Guard units and members, for their exemplary 
     service.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Shuster) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have legislative 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington for 
yielding me the time.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 754, Mr. Speaker, to 
honor and say ``thank you'' to the members of the Pennsylvania National 
Guard from the 56th Stryker Brigade on their return home from Iraq and 
``a job well done.'' And I want to commend and thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and all the members of the Pennsylvania 
delegation for being cosponsors of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, during the deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade, I had 
the opportunity to travel to Mississippi and Louisiana with Congressman 
Shuster, Congressman Gerlach and Congressman Dent, and then we had the 
opportunity, along with Congresswoman Dahlkemper, to travel over to 
Iraq to see our citizen-soldiers in action. And I can tell you that we, 
as members of the Pennsylvania delegation and the entire Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, are very proud of our citizen-soldiers' performance, 
as I believe the entire country is.
  They have returned home with the job well done. As a matter of fact, 
when we had the opportunity to be in Iraq and meet with General Odierno 
and General Jacoby and talk about the performance of General Wright's 
soldiers under the command of Colonel Ferraro, they expressed how proud 
they were as commanders in theater for the job that was well done.
  The Pennsylvania National Guard is the only National Guard who hosts 
a Stryker Brigade. And, Mr. Speaker, that did not happen by a lottery 
held at the Pentagon. It happened because of the strong 
professionalism, the training and the work that this brigade has done 
previously in their deployment. They are the second-most deployed 
National Guard unit of any in the country. And the reason is because of 
the job that they do when they are asked and they are called upon to 
serve our country and to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  During their deployment, they served with distinction. The awards 
that were granted to the 56th Stryker Brigade include four Bronze Star 
Medal for Valor, 10 Army Commendation Medal for Valor, 33 Purple 
Hearts, and unfortunately they had two tragic deaths during their 
deployment, Staff Sergeant Mark Baum and Specialist Chad Edmundson. And 
certainly our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of those two 
who made the supreme sacrifice during their deployment.
  Again, as a member of the Pennsylvania delegation speaking in concert 
with the other members of the delegation and on behalf of this entire 
body, I want to congratulate and commend the 56th Stryker Brigade on 
their performance.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such 
time as he might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today as an original cosponsor 
and strong supporter of House Resolution 754, and I would like to thank 
Congressman Tim Holden of Schuykill County for introducing this 
resolution.
  The United States National Guard is the oldest component of our Armed 
Forces, dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times. Over the past 8 
years, we have witnessed thousands of Guard members answer the call as 
they are asked to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Approximately 4,000 members of the Pennsylvania Guard were deployed 
to Iraq last fall, the largest deployment of the Pennsylvania National 
Guard since the Korean war. Prior to the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat 
Team's deployment to Iraq, I, along with some of my colleagues, Tim 
Holden, Bill Shuster and Jim Gerlach, visited the Pennsylvania Stryker 
Brigade in Mississippi and Louisiana at Camp Shelby and Fort Polk as 
they prepared for their mobilization overseas.
  In June 2009, I traveled to Iraq to meet with the Pennsylvania 
National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade and other Pennsylvania troops, 
accompanied by many Members who are here in the Chamber today, 
including Representative Dahlkemper.
  During my visit to Iraq, I saw a significant improvement in the 
security conditions on the ground. And the fact that we were able to 
safely drive through the bustling streets of Baghdad was an encouraging 
and welcome development. I know, without a doubt, it is the sacrifice, 
perseverance and bravery of these young men and women that enabled such 
progress.
  I am pleased that just 1 year later, the 56th Stryker Brigade is 
returning home. As of late September, most of the brigade has returned 
home. I am honored to be standing here today to pay tribute to these 
heroes. Our military families demonstrate tremendous bravery as they 
watch their loved ones go overseas to fight in harm's way for the 
freedoms we experience every day in this great Nation. We say ``thank 
you'' to the entire Pennsylvania National Guard for protecting the 
families and communities of our great Commonwealth and standing at the 
ready to defend our homeland.
  I urge Members to support House Resolution 754.
  Mr. SHUSTER. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for 
recognizing me.
  I want to rise today in proud and enthusiastic support to House 
Resolution 754, honoring the citizen-soldiers of the Pennsylvania 
National Guard, including the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, known 
as the Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, on its 
return to the United States from deployment in Iraq.
  On January 15, 2009, the 56th Stryker Brigade was deployed to Taji, 
Iraq. Just last month, this extraordinary combat team, 4,000 strong, 
returned to their families in Pennsylvania after an incredibly 
successful deployment. They were welcomed home with proud, open arms 
throughout our State.
  In June, I was grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to 
visit Iraq and to meet personally with members of the 56th Stryker 
Brigade from

[[Page 24745]]

the Third District of Pennsylvania. These brave Pennsylvanians embodied 
the fire of patriotism and the humility of sacrifice. I was in awe of 
their accomplishments and the high standard of excellence by which they 
executed their mission.
  Just yesterday, I was on a plane ride back to Washington sitting next 
to a general whose son's division from Fort Hood took the place of our 
56th Stryker Brigade from Pennsylvania, and he mentioned to me how 
honored his son was to take over from such an excellent group of 
soldiers. It was certainly a joy and an honor to greet our troops as 
they returned to Cambridge Springs just last month, the division out of 
my district.
  Never had I felt such intense pride in our country as I did when 
meeting these extraordinary soldiers and witnessing the sacrifices they 
have made so that we may live in freedom and prosperity.
  Our Pennsylvania National Guard has answered the call to defend these 
United States of America and ensure the security of our people and our 
way of life. Today, we honor these Guardsmen and thank them for their 
service. In doing so, we also renew our pledge to provide our men and 
women in uniform with the highest quality of care and benefits they 
have earned. In doing so, we show our intense gratitude and enormous 
respect for our soldiers who so rightly deserve it.
  Mr. Speaker, I offer my unwavering support of House Resolution 754. I 
thank Congressman Holden for bringing this resolution forward. Our 
Pennsylvania National Guard and our 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team 
certainly deserve this recognition. May God bless our troops.
  Mr. SHUSTER. At this time, I would like to yield such time as he 
might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, my 
colleague from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today in support of House Resolution 754, a 
resolution commending the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat 
Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard on the completion of their 
most recent deployment to Iraq. And I thank all of my Pennsylvania 
colleagues for their support of this resolution.
  The Stryker is a combat vehicle similar to a tank but operates on 
wheels rather than on tracks. And the vehicle is essential to 
protecting our soldiers' lives and is vital to the Army's Interim 
Brigade Combat Teams. The 56th Stryker is a special unit not just to my 
home State, but my home. My son, Logan, served with the 56th Stryker 
Brigade before changing to Active Duty, and a number of my former Eagle 
Scouts from my scout troop serve currently with the 56th Brigade and 
serve proudly in Iraq.
  The 56th Stryker Brigade was deployed in February of this year to 
Iraq and returned home this past summer. And while in Iraq, they 
captured some 80 hidden supply dumps, which caused severe shortages and 
disrupted enemy operations. Their service in Iraq and Afghanistan has 
not gone unnoticed and has saved many lives.
  Upon arriving home last month, these heroes were finally embraced by 
their families, their friends and their loved ones. From Venango County 
to Lycoming County, many constituents from my district bravely and 
honorably served on this brigade. We say ``thank you, welcome home,'' 
and ``God bless you'' for your selfless service. Your actions will 
never be forgotten.
  I urge my colleagues to support our troops and vote in the 
affirmative for the underlying resolution.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today in 
support of House Resolution 754, which honors the citizen-soldiers of 
the Pennsylvania National Guard, including the 56th Stryker Brigade 
Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, on its return to 
the United States from a deployment in Iraq. I am proud to have 
authored this resolution with my colleague, Mr. Holden from 
Pennsylvania. It is an honor, as I said, to speak in favor of this 
resolution and to have the support and cosponsorship of the entire 
Pennsylvania delegation.
  The men and women being honored today are not only brave soldiers; 
they are also our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Their mission in 
Iraq was vital to our national security, and they served with honor and 
distinction.
  In November of last year, I was joined by my colleagues, Mr. Holden, 
Mr. Gerlach and Mr. Dent, to visit the members of the 56th Stryker 
Brigade when they were training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and at 
Fort Polk in Louisiana in preparation for their deployment.
  In June of this year, Mr. Holden and I, along with Mr. Dent and Mrs. 
Dahlkemper, visited Iraq to meet with our deployed troops from 
Pennsylvania to thank them for their service. We also met with troops 
at Camp Liberty outside of Baghdad, and in Taji. While there, we also 
were able to meet with General Odierno, the commander of the 
Multinational Force in Iraq. And General Odierno spoke in glowing terms 
of the Pennsylvania Guard and told us that our soldiers are doing an 
outstanding job bringing security to Iraq.
  I also had the opportunity to meet with many of my constituents, and 
there were dozens and dozens. And they truly are citizen-soldiers. I 
just want to highlight three of them. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Hayes, who 
is a native of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. His father also happened to be the 
former Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary. Sergeant Buchannan, a 
resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and is employed by McAleers Plumbing 
and Heating. He is my plumber and spent time in my basement trying to 
fix leaky plumbing. So it is good to have Sergeant Buchannan home. And, 
finally, Sergeant Gibbons, another neighbor, a friend. His son plays on 
the Hollysburgh High School soccer team with my son. In fact, I will be 
on the sidelines tonight talking to Sergeant Gibbons.
  I also wanted to thank and to remember Chad Edmundson, one of my 
constituents who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and our 
prayers continue to go out to his family and, again, to thank him for 
his service and his sacrifice to this Nation.
  The text of this resolution speaks for itself. It is my pleasure to 
express our gratitude and commend our soldiers on their most recent 
deployment and recognize their achievements. I hope to be participating 
on November 8 in a major parade in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, welcoming home 
our soldiers.
  I would also like to thank my staff for their work on this 
resolution, in particular my Army fellow, Lieutenant Colonel Eric 
Estep, for his great work and late hours in putting this together.
  I urge all Members of the House to support this important resolution.
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 754, which 
honors the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat 
Team on its return to the United States from its deployment to Iraq.
  The 56th Stryker Brigade is comprised of more than 4,000 citizen 
soldiers from across the Commonwealth.
  The 56th served North of Baghdad and conducted more than 800 
operations with the Iraqi Security Forces.
  These soldiers served their country with great distinction, and it is 
my great honor to represent them in Congress.
  I would also ask the House of Representatives to extend its deepest 
condolences to the families of two members of the 56th who gave the 
ultimate sacrifice while serving in Iraq.
  Staff Sergeant Mark C. Baum, 32, of Quakertown, was killed when hit 
by small arms fire on Feb. 21 and
  Specialist Chad A. Edmondson, 20, of Williamsburg, was killed by an 
improvised bomb explosion on May 27.
  Passing this resolution today honors the memory of these brave 
soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade and marks the significant 
contribution that this unit has made to defend our Nation.
  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 754, a 
resolution honoring the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) of the 
Pennsylvania Army National Guard on its return to the United States 
from deployment in Iraq.
  The 56th Stryker Brigade is composed of approximately 4,000 citizen-
soldiers from

[[Page 24746]]

throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These servicemembers come 
from various communities, including several communities in the 6th 
Congressional District.
  The Brigade has previously served our country honorably, mobilizing 
and deploying to Kosovo in 2003. On September 19, 2008 the 56th Stryker 
Brigade was mobilized a second time, deploying to Iraq on January 15, 
2009. The Brigade arrived in Iraq in late January 2009 and accepted 
responsibility of a roughly 800-square-mile area north of Baghdad from 
the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
  During their deployment in Iraq, the 56th Striker Brigade played a 
critical role in support of military operations in Iraq. Brigade 
Soldiers performed over 800 combined operations with Iraqi security 
forces, capturing seven brigade level high value targets and 80 
additional targets, including the capture of more than 80 enemy weapon 
caches.
  The Soldiers of the Independence Brigade served side by side with 
Iraqi soldiers to ensure security. The 56th Stryker Brigade is credited 
with making $22 million worth of reconstruction improvements in 
coordination with an embedded U.S. provincial reconstruction team. 
Following their one year of exceptional service, the Brigade returned 
to the United States and demobilized in September 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring the 
brave men and women of the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) of the 
Pennsylvania Army National Guard. May their service be an inspiration 
to us all.
  Mr. SHUSTER. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 754.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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