Columns

Sunday, April 6, 2003

saluting the men and women of our armed forces

Once again, thousands of Iowans are answering the call to serve. Over 3,200 members of the Iowa National Guard and Reserves have been called to active duty in the Middle East and here at home. At great personal sacrifice, they have left loved ones and communities. One of my own staff members, Heather Hutt, has been activated as a member of the 124th Fighter Squadron and 132nd Fighter Wing. I know that Heather and her fellow service men and women are serving with courage, skill and honor.

As a former Navy pilot, I remember well my time in the service and the strength I drew from the support of my country. I also learned one of the most important lessons of my life: never, ever leave a buddy behind. That, in part, is why I am committed to fully supporting our troops and their families. I will work to ensure they have everything they need to do the job at hand.

I have led the fight in recent years to help our military families receive access to food assistance, while at the same time improving military compensation. I am pleased that Congress approved a 4.1 percent pay increase for all military personnel in December, following pay raises of 5 percent, 3.7 percent, and 4.8 percent the previous three years. Both houses of Congress have also passed a tax reform measure, which I co-sponsored, that will deliver long-overdue tax relief for our military personnel in the areas of child care benefits, home sales, death gratuities and filing deadlines for overseas troops.

We know from the last Gulf War that we must be prepared to treat our troops long after they come home. I have consistently fought for improved access to medical care for our veterans and for the research and treatment of Gulf War illnesses. Last year, Congress approved record funding increases in veterans’ health care, and I am hopeful we will do the same this year. We must also improve the detection and treatment of any illnesses that arise from this war. If we are going to send our young men and women into harm's way, we must be ready to take care of them when they come back.

I pledge to do my best to make sure that our brave men and women--moms and dads, sons and daughters--receive the compensation, resources and support they need today and after they return home.

War is never easy, and some of these brave men and women have already made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. My thoughts and prayers are with all of our armed forces and their families.

Concerns about regular mail delivery have prompted the military to suspend packages and letters to our servicemembers from non-family members, but I encourage you to consider the following alternatives:

Operation Dear Abby -- Send e-mail messages to troops of any Service from your home state -- www.OperationDearAbby.net

Defend America -- Sign an online thank you card for troops --www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html

Operation USO Care Package -- Contribute to the purchase of a care package of items requested by troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, calling cards, and toiletries -- www.usocares.org/homes.html