As we all prepare for our Memorial Day weekends, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on those who cannot be with us and with their families. Today there are over one-and-a-half million men and women serving in defense of this country and the freedoms we hold so dearly. They come from all across this land, including many from here in Oakland County, and we disperse them all across the globe. It is because of these brave young souls that we can live in the land of the free.

It is because of brave young men and women that, despite whatever feelings one might have toward today’s conflicts, we can all be proud of what our military men and women are doing on our behalf overseas. Our troops truly represent the very best of what America has to offer, and I for one simply could not be more proud to call them my fellow citizens. They give of themselves everyday so that we can carry on our lives as normal here at home. The burdens are large, and their sacrifices are great. Our thanks is the very least we can offer, but I know firsthand that it means more to them than we could ever imagine.

It is because of their sacrifices, their valor, their bravery, their compassion and their strength that this country remains the beacon of hope and freedom that she has been since her inception some 232 years ago. This Memorial Day, we honor the memory and praise the sacrifices of those we’ve lost throughout the years. Their last full measure of devotion is what affords the ability to live and prosper in the land of the free.

I’m proud to support them in every way I can, from supporting increased funding and more safety equipment for those fighting today to supporting a better education and healthcare systems for our veterans. It’s the very least our government can do for those who have done so much for all of us.

I hope you’ll join me in honoring the memory of those lost and in honoring our veterans and active duty service men and women at a Memorial Day event in your area.

I also want to alert all my constituents to a great project the Library of Congress has spearheaded for some time. The Veterans History Project is an ongoing project that allows veterans to record their stories from their service and have those stories archived as an official part of U.S. history. There are over 45,000 veterans in the 9th District, including myself, and all of them have a story to tell. I encourage everyone who reads this to tell a veteran about this project and encourage them to participate in it. The stories of our veterans deserve to be remembered. This is a great way to accomplish this. Here is a link to the Library of Congress’s website on the project

I am pleased to announce today that I voted in favor of legislation that will ensure students have continued access to the federal student loan program.  As you may know, the recent credit crunch has caused many private lenders to stop offering federal student loans.  Currently, students borrow nearly $85 billion a year to pay for their college education.  With the rising cost of college tuition students must have access to these loans. 

The legislation that passed the House of Representatives today with my strong support will ensure students have no trouble accessing federal loans during the peak time when student borrowing begins.  The Senate has passed this legislation as well and President George W. Bush will be signing the bill into law in the near future.