Issue Position: Taking Care of our National Guard and Reserves

Issue Position

understand the challenges of serving our country during our Global War on Terrorism. In the past decade, we have faced many challenges and obstacles to restoring the stability and security that existed prior to September 11. However, at every turn, our Reservists and National Guardsmen have stepped forward to provide critical operational capabilities to our active forces, and have been our operational reserve.

Simply the extent to which our country has been forced to rely on the Reserves and National Guard should prove the case that defense budgets must not be cut. And, because of our reliance on the Guard and Reserves, we must be ever more vigilant about their budgets and unique and challenging environment within which our citizen soldiers serve.

I am ready to work with our National Guard and Reserve servicemen and women to ensure a smooth transition back to civilian life and to work with the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve should they have reemployment problems. I take these problems very seriously, and wish to reassure our Guardsmen and Reservists that their experiences will directly affect legislation in future Defense Authorization Bills.

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