[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15962]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NEED FOR CONTINUED AVAILABILITY 
          OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 
58) expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the 
continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed 
Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations, with the 
Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the Senate amendments.
  The Clerk read as follows:
  Senate amendments:

     (1)Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas the Department of Defense determined that some 
     contractor clergy, like other Department of Defense 
     contractors, were unable to perform their contractual duties 
     during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas this determination may have impacted the ability of 
     members of the Armed Forces and their families to worship and 
     participate in religious activities;
       Whereas military chaplains on active duty, like all 
     military personnel on active duty, continue to perform their 
     duties during the current lapse in appropriations;
       Whereas the Department continues to analyze its authorities 
     under the Pay Our Military Act (Public Law 113-39) with 
     respect to contractors; and
       Whereas the Pay Our Military Act appropriates such sums as 
     are necessary to pay contractors of the Department whom the 
     Secretary of Defense determines are providing support to 
     members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it
     (2)On page 2, strike line 3 and all that follows through page 
     3, line 2, and insert the following:
       (1) finds that the provision and availability of religious 
     services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing 
     of many members of the Armed Forces and their families; and
       (2) hopes the Secretary of Defense is able to determine 
     that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military 
     personnel, and would therefore be covered under the 
     appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act 
     (Public Law 113-39).

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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