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Resolution Honoring the United Service Organization
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| February 14th, 2006 |
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Extension of Remarks
Congressman Jeff Miller of Florida
H. Con. Res 322 - Expressing the Sense of Congress regarding the contribution of the USO to the morale and welfare of our servicemen and women of our armed forces and their families.
February 14, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the United Service Organizations, established on February 4, 1941 has become a national treasure. In every war and every theater of operations since World War II where Americans have been deployed the USO has been there to entertain and increase the morale and welfare of the men and women in the military and their families. As the Chairman of the USO Caucus it is my pleasure to bring H. Con. Res. 322 to the floor.
When the organization was formed the military was expanding rapidly for the impending conflict. Between 1940 and 1944 the size of the military grew from 50,000 to over 12 million. At its high point during WW II the USO had over 3,000 clubs and 1.5 million volunteers to provide services to military personnel. On the entertainment side, the USO provided 428,521 shows and performances. To put this figure in perspective, around the world the USO would do sometimes 700 shows a day. It estimates that over 7000 entertainers were sent oversees to entertain the troops.
Today, USO facilities are visited over 5 million times a year. Although the USO does have paid staff, the bulk of the service delivery is provided by 12,000 volunteers who donate over 450,000 hours annually.
In 2005, the USO sent out over 50 celebrity entertainment tours. Almost 200,000 service members in 30 countries were visited by these tours.
The USO has distributed over 750,000 care packages to deploying service members. Last year they had three care package stuffing parties on Capitol Hill for troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. I have helped stuff packages as have many other Members of Congress and our staff. We have, to date, stuffed and sent 12,000 care packages. My goal is to increase that number to 20,000 a year. It is the least we in Congress can do.
H. Con. Res. 322 will recognize the thousands of men and women, mostly volunteers, who have made the USO possible. Without them, the USO wouldn’t be half of what it is.
Every time I go overseas to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and any other area of operation around the world the men and women tell me all the time: send more USO shows. Send us more USO care packages. To me, Mr. Speaker, that says that the USO continues to be the single most important morale booster to our men and women serving overseas. From World War II to Iraq the USO has been there and today we are here for the men and women of the USO. God bless them and the incredible work they do.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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There are no Floor Speechess to be displayed for this month.
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