e-News 3/24/16

• An Unconscionable Act
• Inherent Dishonesty: Troop Count in Iraq
• My Work in Committee: The National Guard and Military Health Care
• Reversing a Shameful Army Decision
• Denville’s Valleyview Middle School
• Salute:  “Mother” Lucy Gholson

An Unconscionable Act

An unconscionable act of terrorism took over two dozen lives in Belgium this week and wounded over 200 more.  Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were injured, and those who lost a loved one in this brutal violence.

The deliberate targeting of civilians in public spaces shocks all in the civilized world. Sadly, the threat of mindless attacks like we saw this week is increasing, both at home and abroad. Confronting and defeating radical Islam requires vigilance, unwavering resolve, and a commitment to working together as one people, one nation.

ISIS has been responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide, including Americans and others who have been systematically targeted and killed based on religion or ethnicity. Since declaring its caliphate in June 2014, the self-proclaimed Islamic State has conducted or inspired nearly 75 terrorist attacks in 20 countries other than Iraq and Syria, where its carnage has taken a much deadlier toll; those attacks outside Iraq and Syria have killed at least 1,280 people and injured more than 1,770 others.

The President proclaimed yesterday that defeating ISIS was his “top priority.”  But we must do more than label this fight a “top priority.”  We must take swift, strategic action to destroy this barbaric band of thugs.

Inherent Dishonesty: Troop Count in Iraq

Read how political considerations trump force protection for our troops and success against ISIS and al Qaeda here.

My Work in Committee: Military Health Care and the National Guard/Reserves

We convened our Defense Appropriations Committee twice this week for public oversight hearings on the status and performance of our military healthcare system and the posture of our National Guard and Army Reserves.

Our Guard and Reserves units have performed magnificently in Iraq and Afghanistan, and throughout the world.  The Committee commended them for their dedication to their mission and for the sacrifice of time away from home and family. 

However, no one knows for sure where the next conflict will develop, forcing us to respond militarily.  We are deeply concerned about their readiness to fight today after fifteen years of war!

Readiness was also a key issues discussed during the military healthcare hearing.

Our nation’s ability to respond to global emergencies is impacted greatly by our military’s medical readiness.  We must ensure that our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen have access to top quality medical care, including education and prevention programs which will allow them to be ready to fight. 

At the same time, we also must provide their families the peace of mind that they will cared for while their loved ones are protecting our country.

We conveyed to the Director of the new Defense Health Agency, Vice-Admiral Raquel Bono and the Surgeons-General of the Army, Navy and Air Force our pride in the remarkable improvement in the survival rate of our troops on the battlefield. 

The Committee supports robust funding level for the defense health programs to meet the commitment to provide the very best in medical care to the servicemen and women who defend our country on a daily basis.   

The Committee also questioned out witnesses on advances in mental health and suicide prevention, PTSD, TBI,  the potential effects of contamination at domestic and overseas military installations and work that is being done to ensure that women in uniform – a growing segment of our total military force - receive excellent medical care they need and have earned. 

Watch our hearing on Military Health care here.

Watch the National Guard and Army Reserves hearing here.

Reversing a Shameful Army Decision

Without a word of opposition, the House this week approved legislation that would allow WASPs - female air force service pilots who served during World War II - to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  The House passed unanimously a bill by my colleague Rep. Martha McSally (AZ).  The bill would change the Army’s current regulations that exclude the 1,074 women who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots from being buried at Arlington.

WASP pilots were granted veteran status in the 1970s, and in 2002 Arlington Cemetery agreed to provide them burial honors there. But the Army said last year the pilots were not in fact allowed burial rights at Arlington, due to a technicality.

Congresswoman McSally’s measure now heads to the Senate.

Learn more about this issue here.

Read Congresswoman McSally’s OpEd in The Hill, “The military’s final sexism barrier” here.

ICYMI: My recent visit to Denville’s Valleyview Middle School, as reported by the Neighbor News.

Salute: “Mother” Lucy Gholson who celebrated her 100^th birthday with her family and friends at her beloved church, Union Baptist Church, in Morristown last Saturday!