(WASHINGTON, DC) – The House passed a bipartisan amendment today introduced by Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District-Kansas) to remove the travel burden on military personnel serving in combat zones when they take rest and recuperation leave. The amendment will reallocate funding to cover the transportation costs to return troops home to their families and loved ones.

“Our troops should not be stranded or forced to foot the bill for connecting flights and transportation to their homes once they arrive in the United States for rest and recuperation,” Moore said. “We talk a lot about values in Congress. Our policies need to reflect that. Today the House demonstrated we value and appreciate our military personnel by voting to remove this outrageous travel burden.”

The Ramstad-Moore amendment to the Iraq supplemental passed on a voice vote with unanimous support. It will reallocate $98 million in the Army’s personnel funding account to extend the Rest and Recuperation program to include domestic travel.

“Troops should not have to bear any more burdens – financial or otherwise – than their extended service to our country already demands,” Moore said. “Passing this amending was the right thing to do to show our support for those who serve us.”

The R&R program was designed to boost morale for military personnel serving on 12-month tours in Iraq and neighboring counties by briefly reuniting wives and husbands, parents and children, and friends of loved ones. Current policy leaves troops stranded or forced to pay their way for connecting flights and transportation to their homes once they arrive at selected ports in the United States.

Members of the Armed Forces have been deployed in Afghanistan since 2002. Currently, over 130,000 are deployed in Iraq with the likelihood of another 10,000 to 15,000 troops being sent overseas in the next few months. The average length of stay for military personnel in Iraq is 12 months, and the total extended time away from home for these troops is uncertain.