[Pages H2022-H2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONGRATULATING THE ARMY RESERVE ON ITS CENTENNIAL

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 70) congratulating the Army Reserve on its
centennial, which will be formally celebrated on April 23, 2008, and
commemorating the historic contributions of its veterans and continuing
contributions of its soldiers to the vital national security interests
and homeland defense missions of the United States, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:

H.J. Res. 70

Whereas on January 9, 1905, the 26th President of the
United States, Theodore Roosevelt, dispatched a ``special
message'' to the Senate and the House of Representatives that
``earnestly recommended passage'' of legislation to establish
a Federal reserve force of skilled and trained personnel to
bring ``our Army . . . to the highest point of
efficiency'';
Whereas on December 14, 1905, the then-Secretary of War and
later 27th President of the United States, William Howard
Taft, transmitted to the Senate and the House of
Representatives a draft bill and letter authored by Major
General Leonard Wood, ``strongly commending . . . proposed
legislation'' to ``increase the efficiency of the Medical
Corps of the Army'' by establishing a Federal reserve force
comprised of specially trained personnel;
Whereas in response to the recommendations of President
Theodore Roosevelt and senior military and civilian leaders,
the 60th Congress enacted Public Law 101, entitled ``An Act
to increase the efficiency of the Medical Department of the
United States Army'', ch. 150, 35 Stat. 66, which was signed
into law on April 23, 1908, by President Theodore Roosevelt;
Whereas Public Law 101 authorized the establishment of the
first Federal reserve force and the first reservoir of
trained officers in a reserve status for a United States
military service;
Whereas Congress subsequently adapted, expanded, and
amended the reserve organization of the Army to include
additional military occupational specialties and capabilities
and established the organization today known as the Army
Reserve;
Whereas the Army Reserve has played a major role in the
defense of our Nation and in furtherance of United States
interests for 100 years;
Whereas many distinguished Americans have served honorably
and with distinction in the Army Reserve, including
Presidents Harry S. Truman and Ronald W. Reagan, the former
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry H.
Shelton, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Major
General William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of
Strategic Services during World War II), Drs. Charles H. Mayo
and William J. Mayo, and Captain Eddie Rickenbacker;
Whereas the Army Reserve contributed 169,500 soldiers to
the Army during World War I;
Whereas the Army Reserve contributed 200,000 soldiers and
29 percent of the Army's officers during World War II and was
recognized by General George C. Marshall for its unique and
invaluable contributions to the national defense;
Whereas 240,500 soldiers of the Army Reserve were called to
active duty during the Korean War;
Whereas more than 60,000 Army Reserve soldiers were called
to active duty during the Berlin Crisis;
Whereas 35 Army Reserve units were activated and deployed
in support of operations in Vietnam, where they served with
distinction and honor;
Whereas the Army Reserve contributed more than 94,000
soldiers in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert
Shield in 1990 and 1991;
Whereas the Army Reserve contributed more than 48 percent
of the reserve component soldiers mobilized in support of
Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, the Army Reserve has
provided indispensable and sustained support for Operations
Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom, with 98
percent of units either deployed or providing mobilized
soldiers, and more than 147,000 individual soldiers being
mobilized (of which more than 110,000 individual soldiers
have deployed) in support of the Global War on Terrorism;
Whereas more than 39,000 individual soldiers of the Army
Reserve have served multiple deployments since September 11,
2001;
Whereas 13,003 Army Reserve soldiers were forward-deployed
in the Central Command Area of Responsibility on October 31,
2007, and 102 soldiers of the Army Reserve had borne the
ultimate sacrifice in support of Operations Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom through October 31, 2007;
Whereas the Army Reserve is organized into 3 components,
the Ready Reserve, the Standby Reserve, and the Retired
Reserve, which together contain more than 601,000 soldiers;
Whereas the Army cannot go to war or sustain a military
operation without the highly skilled and trained personnel of
the Army Reserve;
Whereas the Army Reserve provides more than 37 percent of
the mission essential combat support and combat service
support forces of the Army;
Whereas 100 percent of the Army's Internment Settlement
Brigades, Judge Advocate General Units (Legal Support
Organizations), Medical Groups, Railway Units, and Training
and Exercise Divisions are in the Army Reserve;
Whereas more than 66 percent of the Army's Civil Affairs
Units, Psychological Operations Units, Theater Signal
Commands, Expeditionary Sustainment Commands, and Medical
Capabilities are in the Army Reserve;
Whereas the Army Reserve is no longer a force held in
strategic reserve but today functions as an integral and
essential operational reserve in support of the missions of
the active Army;
Whereas the Army cannot go to war or sustain a military
operation without the skilled and trained Ready Reserve and
Retired Reserve soldiers of the Army Reserve;
Whereas the Selected Reserve component of the Army Reserve
is comprised of more than 30,000 officers and 150,000
enlisted soldiers who have volunteered their personal service
in defense of the Constitution and their fellow citizens;
Whereas the Army and the Army Reserve are recognized as
institutions that have played historic and decisive roles in
promoting the cause of individual dignity and the value of
integration;
Whereas nearly one in four Selected Reserve soldiers and
more than one in five Individual Ready Reserve soldiers are
women whose contributions are consistently characterized by a
high degree of commitment, professionalism, and military
bearing;
Whereas the ability of individual soldiers and the Army
Reserve to perform their wartime missions is contingent on
the active engagement and support of their families,
employers, and local communities;
Whereas the Army Reserve is a community-based force with an
active presence in 1,100 communities and 975 Army Reserve
centers in operation throughout the United States;
Whereas Sir Winston Churchill once remarked that
``Reservists are twice the citizen'', a sentiment that
applies especially to the soldiers of the Army Reserve; and
Whereas the Army Reserve makes these contributions to the
security of our nation in return for less than 5 percent of
the Army's total budget: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
Congress--
(1) congratulates the Army Reserve on the occasion of the
100th anniversary of the enactment of its original
authorizing law;
(2) recognizes and commends the Army Reserve for the
selfless and dedicated service of its past and present
citizen-soldiers whose personal courage, contributions, and
sacrifices have helped preserve the freedom and advance the
national security and homeland defense of the United States;
and
(3) extends its gratitude to the veterans, soldiers,
families, and employers whose essential and constant support
have enabled the Army Reserve to accomplish its vital
missions and renews our Nation's commitment in support of
their noble efforts.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.

General Leave

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the resolution now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 70, which commemorates 2008 as
the centennial of the United States Army Reserve, celebrating the
historic contributions of its veterans and continuing contributions of
its soldiers to operations at home and abroad. I thank my colleague,
Mr. Bishop of Georgia, for introducing this important resolution.

[[Page H2023]]

On January 9, 1905, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore
Roosevelt, dispatched a special message to the Senate and the House of
Representatives recommending passage of legislation to establish a
Federal Reserve force of trained personnel to bring our Army to its
highest point of efficiency.
Beginning as a supplementary unit at the turn of the 20th century,
our Army Reserve soldiers have shown immeasurable dedication and valor
through the broadening of their inceptive purpose. The Army Reserve has
developed from a few support troops during World War I into a vital and
sustained operational force for current and future operations. This
Federal force has been deployed in different capacities, serving in
eight wars and defending the interests of the United States and its
allies in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Russia, Berlin,
Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kenya, Iraq
and numerous humanitarian missions in other countries during its first
100 years. Involvement in operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Joint
Endeavor, Joint Guard, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom
shows the Army is incomplete without the skilled and trained personnel
of its Reserve.
The Army Reserve has grown from 160 medical officers to virtually
200,000 soldiers who play a major role in the defense of our Nation and
who continue in the furtherance of the United States defense interests.
At this moment approximately 50,000 of our Nation's Army Reserve
soldiers are serving on active duty around the world. These men and
women voluntarily put their civilian careers and family lives on hold.
And in most cases, they do so for over a year which is a testament to
their selflessness, patriotism, and willingness to sacrifice for the
good of our country.
Indeed, I am extremely proud of all of our Armed Forces: the Army,
the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the National Guard. Our
entire military continues to work diligently in a time of conflict, and
deserves the highest respect for their courage in the face of
adversity.
H.J. Res. 70 is our way, as the United States Congress, of
recognizing the centennial of our Army Reserve, a force that our
institution played a role in creating 100 years ago. This resolution
honors the sacrifice and tremendous distinction of the millions of
American men and women who have served as Army soldiers since April 23,
1908.
Madam Speaker, I again thank our colleague from Georgia (Mr. Bishop)
for his initiative in bringing us together today to recognize and honor
the Army Reserve on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, and I urge
my colleagues to support the resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 70,
as amended, which congratulates the Army Reserve on its centennial.
There are over 340 Army reservists in Virginia's First Congressional
District, and over 150 have been mobilized in support of the global war
on terror. Ever since 1908 when the Army Reserve began as a means to
increase the efficiency of the Army Medical Corps, the Army Reserve and
its soldiers have stepped up magnificently to every challenge and
mission presented to them.
Those challenges span the breadth of the American wars in the past
100 years. In World War I, 169,500 Army reservists served; in World War
II, 200,000, including 29 percent of the Army's officer corps; in
Korea, 240,500; in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 94,000.
And since September 11, 2001, 147,000 Army reservists have been
mobilized in support of the global war on terror; 110,000 have
deployed, 39,000 have served multiple deployments, and 102 have died in
the war on terror.
Army reservists are citizen soldiers active in 1,100 communities
across the Nation. They are the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers
of America. They are remarkable in many respects, but no more so than
their willingness to serve this Nation in a professional and unselfish
manner. They continue to serve today knowing that they will likely be
deployed away from home, family and civilian employment.
For many in America, the patriotism, commitment, and sacrifice of
these remarkable citizens called Army reservists goes unnoticed. I
believe every effort should be made to highlight and acknowledge their
service to a grateful Nation. So it is entirely proper and fitting that
we take this moment not only to mark an historical milestone of 100
years of service to the Nation by the Army Reserve, but also to honor
those soldiers past and present who have served and are serving so
honorably as well as Army reservists.

{time} 1445

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this joint
resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the original
sponsor of this joint resolution.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I'm honored to sponsor this
bipartisan resolution, along with Representatives Buyer, Shimkus and
Taylor, to congratulate the United States Army Reserve on its 100th
anniversary, which will be formally celebrated on April 23, 2008.
The resolution, which has 260 cosponsors, also commemorates the
contributions of Army Reserve veterans who've helped to ensure that the
United States' vital national security interests are protected and
defended in times of war and peace.
I'm very gratified by the outpouring of bipartisan support that this
resolution has received. It's indicative of the high regard and esteem
in which the Army Reserve is held among Members of Congress and the
American people.
As a current member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, as
well as the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Committee, I've
been extremely impressed by the level of commitment that Army Reserve
soldiers bring to their work, and by their high degree of
professionalism. They truly are ``twice the citizen,'' as Winston
Churchill once remarked.
Today, the U.S. Army Reserve is composed of more than 30,000 officers
and 150,000 enlisted soldiers. They have an active presence in 1,100
communities across our Nation, contributing military values, important
job skills, and economic support. They are husbands and wives, fathers
and mothers, sons and daughters. They are our neighbors, our friends,
our acquaintances and our colleagues at work. These soldiers can be
called up at any time to serve our Nation, and they must be trained and
prepared to respond at a moment's notice.
Here in the House of Representatives, 24 Members, including myself,
have been privileged to serve in the Reserves. In fact, two of the lead
sponsors of this resolution, Representatives Steve Buyer and John
Shimkus, still serve in the Army Reserve.
As this resolution notes, the role of today's Army Reserve soldier
has expanded and changed dramatically since President Roosevelt first
requested that Congress establish a reserve of trained officers. On
April 23, 1908, Congress responded to the President's request by
establishing a permanent reserve corps of trained medical officers. The
modest corps represented the humble start of what is today a multi-
faceted operational and strategic force.
Since then, their duties have expanded. The Army Reserve is now an
integral component in any active U.S. Army mission. They have answered
the call of duty in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War,
Panama, the Gulf War, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo and, of course,
since September 11, 2001, in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi
Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Through October 31, 2007, 102 Army Reserve soldiers made the ultimate
sacrifice while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, an
additional four Reserve officers have lost their lives in combat. We
dedicate this resolution to their memory and to the memory of all
Reserve soldiers who fought and died defending our Nation's freedoms
throughout our history.
We dedicate this resolution to our living heroes as well, to those
men and women who continue their service to our Nation in the U.S. Army
Reserve today.

[[Page H2024]]

I want to commend several staff members for the outstanding work in
bringing this resolution to the floor: Kevin Coughlin, Joe Hicken and
John Chapla on the House Armed Services Committee, Tim Welter and Abel
Carreiro on Congressman Buyer's staff, Grant Culp from Congressman
Shimkus' staff, Randy Jennings on Congressman Taylor's staff, David
Whitney on the House Judiciary Committee, Lieutenant General Jack C.
Stultz and Lieutenant Colonel Rob Young of the Army Reserve, and
Jonathan Halpern and Ed Larkin on my staff.
Madam Speaker, I, again, thank my colleagues who are cosponsors for
their extraordinary support of this resolution, and I urge its
immediate adoption.
Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, as the Army Reserve celebrates its
centennial, I rise to congratulate the Reserve on its dedicated service
and sacrifice to ensure our Nation's freedom. Since its inception on
April 23, 1908, the Reserve and its more than 1 million citizen-
soldiers have protected American citizens at home and abroad. When
tyranny raises its fist and liberty is threatened, the citizen-soldier
answers the call to ease the suffering. For this, our Nation is forever
grateful.
Today, more than 20,000 Army Reserve soldiers are deployed in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and 18 other countries, with an additional 7,000 Army
Reserve serving in the United States. In my home State of Minnesota,
historic Fort Snelling is the proud home to the 88th Regional Readiness
Command, comprised of Reserve units from Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. America's greatness lies in her
people, and the American soldier is the embodiment of hard work,
patriotism and service, the finest of America's principles.
Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize today the selfless
commitment and sacrifice of so many citizen-soldiers. It is they who
lay down their lives to defend those who cannot defend themselves. It
is they who lay down their lives to protect the rights of those who
disrespect our flag and our Nation. And it is they who lay down their
lives so that true freedom will never know extinction. As April 23
approaches, let us remember and be forever grateful for the Army
Reserve's 100 years of noble service and sacrifice to our Nation.
Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, at this time I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 70, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentlewoman from Guam seek
recognition?
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the demand for the
yeas and nays?
There was no objection.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

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