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Patty Murray's Washington View

Date: May 21, 2004
Location:
Issues: National Security Defense Military Personnel


PATTY MURRAY'S WASHINGTON VIEW

U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Weekly Report to the People of Washington - May 21, 2004

Working for Guard and Reservists

Thousands of National Guard troops and Reservists are sacrificing for us overseas. I believe it is our nation's responsibility to repay their continuing sacrifice by helping them in every way we can. Over the past few months, I've met with many members of the Guard and the Reserve, and their families, to learn about the challenges they face during these long deployments.

On Wednesday, as part of an ongoing effort to provide increased assistance to families of the tens of thousands of troops serving on active duty, I held a press conference with Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and Senator Bill Nelson. At the press conference, we proposed comprehensive aid to improve family assistance, health care, education and retirement benefits for troops, veterans, and their families back home.

I intend to offer these provisions as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill currently being debated in the Senate. I believe it's crucial that at a time when we're asking so much of these brave men and women, we should reciprocate. So I look forward to the passage of this important measure.

Read the statement I submitted for the record:

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