Recognizing and honoring military unit family support volunteers for their dedicated service to the United States, the Armed Forces, and members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 486. This resolution recognizes and honors the selfless service of America's military unit family support volunteers, who provide such dedicated support to the members of our Armed Forces and their families.

We are all aware of the tremendous sacrifices our service members make in the defense of the United States. Since September 11, 2001, our 1.4 million active duty service members and 875,000 citizen soldiers, the National Guardsmen and Reservists, have served our Nation honorably in the war on terrorism. Many have served in extremely dangerous conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their bravery and sacrifice are an honor to our Nation.

But we must not forget the sacrifices of those whom they leave behind at home. As the poet John Milton said, ``Those also serve who only stand and wait.''

The months of separation that military families endure can be filled with anxiety, loneliness and hardship. But life goes on for America's military spouses and their families while their loved ones serve overseas. There are doctors appointments, anniversaries, home repairs, holidays, financial problems, graduation, car troubles, birthdays, and in some cases, births. All those joys and trials of life that are shared by a family can become somber days and monumental tasks when one's partner or parent is missing.

In my congressional district, I am honored by the opportunity to work with many Navy ombudsmen and Marine Key Volunteers, or KVs, as they are called. That is why I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 486, because I am constantly amazed by the stories they share with me.

I met one Marine spouse who was facing incredibly difficult circumstances after her husband was deployed to Iraq in June, leaving her with the responsibility of caring for her two sons on her own. In addition to the stress involved with caring for her family, she must also deal with the anxiety that comes when you know your loved one is in harm's way.

Her husband is fighting the insurgency in some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq. In the notes he writes to her, he describes what it is like to be on the front lines and what it is like to come under fire from insurgents.

Fortunately, this brave young woman was assigned a Key Volunteer who cares deeply and who can relate to her. Her KV speaks to her every day to provide comfort and guidance and to offer any other help that she can provide.

Just before the war in Iraq got under way, I heard from a Navy spouse who was 4 months pregnant and her husband was deployed for a 6-month tour. She was new to San Diego and had no family and few friends in the area. She would have to face the remainder of her pregnancy without her husband being there and give birth without him by her side.

However, she was assigned a Navy ombudsman, who went to great length to help her. The dedicated ombudsman contacted her several times to provide moral support and to offer assistance. She also made herself available 24 hours a day in case this young wife needed medical treatment, guidance or just a friend.

In every unit of our great military, groups of these volunteers gather to help support each other when their husbands and their wives deploy. This powerful network of volunteers that makes up the family support group starts out as a collection of spouses who are thrown together by circumstance and grows into a network of friends and extended family.

This family comes together to shoulder the burden and to share the joys for those coping with the absence of their loved ones.

No one can understand the anxiety and the hardship that deployment brings better than these family support group volunteers, because they too have experienced these hardships. In

many cases, family support volunteers are in the same position as those they seek to help. Their spouses are also deployed into harm's way, and I know that many of them have gotten involved as ombudsman persons because of some of the trauma that they experienced.

Madam Speaker, I cannot tell my colleagues how deeply honored I am today for the opportunity to recognize America's family support volunteers. These brave men and women give selflessly of themselves for no pay and no recognition, and they often contribute their own resources to those in need. They do it for their loved ones. They do it for their community, and they do it for their nation.

Our service members need these dedicated volunteers to help keep the home fires burning so that they can focus on the task of fighting the global war on terror, a task that is more difficult if they are worried about their families back home. Knowing their families have the full support of a dedicated volunteer helps to ease their fears and concerns.

I commend these volunteers who so selflessly serve our armed forces and our Nation. The support they give to our military families is truly invaluable, and our country owes them a large debt of gratitude.

Madam Speaker, I see that there are no further speakers. I am delighted to present this. I look forward to presenting it to the ombudspeople and the key volunteers in the San Diego region, and I know that they will be pleased with this recognition from the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 486) recognizing and honoring military unit family support volunteers for their dedicated service to the United States, the Armed Forces, and members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 486.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 486. This resolution recognizes and honors the men and women behind the unparalleled support structure that serves the families of our service members.

The men and women of the United States Armed Forces face a great challenge each day. We ask our active duty service members and citizen soldiers to provide safety and security at times when these words seem little more than lofty ideals.

We also ask a great deal of the families of these young men and women. For each of the 1.4 million active duty service members and the 875,000 citizen soldiers who have served our Nation since September 11, 2001, someone has been left behind to balance the demands of providing emotional and moral support to their loved ones in the field while maintaining their own spirits and carrying on with their everyday lives. These friends and family members make it possible for our armed service members to carry out their work. But who supports them in their important mission?

Fortunately, military family support volunteers take it upon themselves to do just that. These brave volunteers help shoulder the burden of our military families. They provide a source of strength for the families who stay behind while their loved ones serve far away.

Family support volunteers offer this assistance freely, without asking for pay or recognition. Often the spouses of long-serving members of our Armed Forces, these individuals are motivated by the desire to share their wisdom with families who are new to these trials. Because they have also experienced the anxiety that comes with deployment, they understand better than anyone the struggles that come in times of war.

As a young officer, my family and I benefited from these volunteers. As a senior officer, when I was commanding thousands of Marines and sailors far off in Somalia, I was reassured and they were reassured to know that our families back home were being supported by such volunteers. Now, as a Member of Congress, it is my great honor to join my colleagues in providing the recognition the military unit family support volunteers deserve.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H. Con. Res. 486.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, only to thank the gentlewoman from California for introducing the resolution. This important resolution is long overdue in order that we recognize the wonderful members of the military family support volunteers.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions at the desk be discharged from their respective committees and the Senate proceed to their consideration, en bloc.

I ask unanimous consent that the amendments at the desk be agreed to; the resolutions, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the preambles, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the title amendment, where applicable, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, all en bloc.