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National Security Supporting Armed Forces
Since joining the Senate in 1993, I have
been committed to modernizing our Armed Forces to combat emerging
threats. I strongly support our Armed Forces and the excellent
work they are doing to meet these threats head-on. I am particularly
proud of how our men and women in uniform have responded to
the terrible events of September 11, 2001, as our nation and
our allies have engaged in a global fight against terrorists
and those who would shelter, support, and finance them. There
can be no doubt that Congress should provide the resources
necessary to prevail in this struggle.
We are forever indebted to our brave men and women in uniform
serving at home and abroad, and especially those serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan, for their sacrifice for our country.
I believe that we must fully support the men and women undertaking
these dangerous and difficult operations. That is why I supported
S.
1689, and H.R.
1268, the two major supplemental appropriations bills
that are providing emergency funding for military actions
in Iraq and Afghanistan, and providing additional funding
for ongoing reconstruction costs and training of security
forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. While I question the adequacy
of the Administration's policies in Afghanistan and the shifting
justifications for pursuing military operations in Iraq, I
feel strongly that we must support our troops who have answered
the call to service.
I also voted in December 2005 for the final version of the
fiscal year 2006 defense authorization bill (H.R. 1815). This
legislation includes important provisions that our brave men
and women in uniform need and deserve, such as a 3.1 percent
across-the-board pay raise for military personnel. I was pleased
to once again support the expansion of TRICARE health insurance
for our National Guard and Reserve. The reserve component
is being used more than at any time since World War II. Forty
percent of our troops in Iraq in 2005 were reserve component
troops. These citizen soldiers face additional burdens when
they transition in and out of their civilian life and providing
them and their families with TRICARE is one way we can ease
those burdens.
Another provision of the fiscal year 2006 defense authorization
bill that I strongly supported was the increased funding for
force protection equipment. In the past few years concerned
Wisconsinites have contacted my office telling me that they
or their deployed loved ones fighting in Iraq did not have
all of the equipment they needed. This situation is unconscionable.
I have repeatedly pressed the Pentagon to fix this problem
and I am glad that H.R.
1815 will help address these shortages.
I have also contacted the Secretary of Defense about a number
of issues relating to our current military campaigns, including
the lack of certain critical equipment. I have also relayed
my concerns about the long-term health effects of the deployment
to the Persian Gulf on our military personnel, and about the
availability of counseling and child care services for military
families.
We owe our military personnel and
their families our support. I will continue to work to ensure
that our troops and their families have the resources that
they need, both to combat our adversaries and to provide for
their families, during this tumultuous time. Feedback from
Wisconsinites on these issues is extremely important and so
I encourage Wisconsinites to contact my office with ideas
or concerns they may have.
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