Recognizing the service, sacrifice, honor, and professionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself so much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Joint Resolution 44, honoring the noncommissioned officers in the United States Army. I thank Congressman Ike Skelton, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, for introducing this legislation.

No one has better expressed the reason for this resolution than the current Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth Preston. In his view, ``Today's NCO Corps is a standard bearer of one of the Army's greatest success stories, the All-Volunteer Force, and serves as a role model for armies of the world to emulate.''

I fully agree with the Sergeant Major's statement. Along with my colleague, Mr. Marshall of Georgia, I, too, am an Army veteran, and in my own 31-year experience in the Army National Guard and Reserve, noncommissioned officers were indispensable to the accomplishment of the missions we undertook. This is true of NCOs across all branches of the military.

One of my four sons serving today in the military, a Navy doctor, has been so impressed by the leadership and professionalism exhibited by the NCOs with whom he serves that he recommended that I invite one of their children to work as an intern in our office, who is present with us today. Todd O'Brien is the son of Master Chief Petty Officer Tadeo O'Brien. Master Chief O'Brien supports the U.S. Navy SEALs as an independent duty corpsman in the Naval Special Warfare Logistical Support Medical Group 2 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.

While he serves in a different military branch, he shares the values of service, honor, integrity, and courage common to all professional noncommissioned officers.

The Army is adaptable and successful on the battlefield because the corporals and sergeants have the training, education, professionalism, and operational and strategic awareness to interpret and issue orders as necessary within their duties and in the absence of commissioned officers.

The all-volunteer Army has been able to sustain itself through 8 years of war in two fronts because of corporals and sergeants who have made great personal sacrifices in the global war against terrorism.

Moreover, the noncommissioned officers of the Army have not only trained future leaders, both officer and enlisted, but they have also gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the welfare of junior enlisted personnel and their families.

In recognition of the current and historical contributions, sacrifices, leadership, and professionalism of its noncommissioned officers, the Army has designated 2009 as the ``Year of the NCO.'' This resolution is part of that effort to honor the corporals and sergeants who are the backbone of the Army.

I would urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this resolution as one way of expressing their deepest appreciation for the NCOs who are serving and have served.

I would also urge that each one of us, as we go home to our districts and meet with our constituents, take the time to explain what a magnificent Army this Nation has, especially because of the men and women who call themselves NCOs.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor for me to be on the floor today with Congressman Marshall, with Delegate Faleomavaega, two veterans themselves who could tell firsthand heartfelt indication of their appreciation of NCOs.

I come from the State of South Carolina. The State flag of South Carolina is a recognition of the significance of the NCOs to our independence and freedom. This flag of South Carolina has a palmetto tree on the flag. It recognizes the Battle of Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The British fleet attacked the fort. The soft palmetto logs, the cannonballs hit the logs and bounced off or absorbed. At the same time, they did knock down the American flag. And at that time Sergeant William Jasper had the courage to raise the flag back up, indicating to the British that they were not going to be successful. The British fleet withdrew.

The flag of South Carolina has a palmetto tree. It also has a crescent. The crescent indicated the rank of a sergeant during the American Revolution on the helmet. So we, the State of South Carolina, are forever grateful for what NCOs have meant, and forever in perpetuity we appreciate what H.J. Res. 44 means.

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

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 44) recognizing the service, sacrifice, honor, and professionalism of the Noncommissioned Officers of the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, let me first ask that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Chief and the Secretary of the Army declared this year to be the ``Year of the NCO'' within the United States Army. Chairman Skelton would be here today to handle this motion but for the fact that he is at Walter Reed Hospital visiting a constituent who has been injured in service to the country in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, the NCO, the noncommissioned officer, is often described as the backbone of the Army. The NCO is also described as the eyes and ears of the commander. I was an NCO in Vietnam myself, a little bit young compared to the NCOs we have today, too wet behind the ears to really be a good NCO because a really good NCO is not just backbone and eyes and ears, a really good NCO is a teacher, a leader, almost a father or a mother to the young soldiers that work in the unit that that NCO is in charge of.

NCOs not only train those soldiers, guide those soldiers, try and instill in those soldiers a real spirit of what it is like to be a soldier, what it is like to be a good human being, instilling values, courage, teaching, training, techniques, you name it, but in addition to that, good NCOs do the same thing for young officers, instilling in young officers the kind of experience and wisdom that young officers need to gain as they mature.

NCOs are essentially foremen. They are superintendents. Without NCOs--and we have had them for over 230 years--this Army would not be what it is today. There is no question about that. They serve with honor. In today's Army, they sacrifice a great deal, both themselves and their families.

There are many examples of courage under fire by NCOs. Over 100 Medal of Honor winners are NCOs in the United States from the United States Army. And I can't think of a more fitting tribute, in light of the fact that the Secretary and Chief have declared this to be the Year of the NCO, than that all of us vote in favor of this motion which honors our NCOs in the United States Army.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the words of my friend from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson). As he noted, he was an officer, a commissioned officer, and who better than a commissioned officer to testify to the importance of noncommissioned officers to the proper functioning of the Army. Frankly, the Army could not function with commissioned officers alone. Noncommissioned officers are more than just the backbone of the Army.

Madam Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to a fellow NCO from Vietnam, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

Madam Speaker, as I think about the significance of this resolution, I am reminded of Sergeant First Class Victor Anderson. Sergeant First Class Victor Anderson from Andersonville, Georgia, was a Sumter County Sheriff's deputy when called to duty as part of the 48th Brigade of the Georgia Army National Guard in Iraq. He was disqualified because of diabetes; nonetheless, he fought his disqualification because he knew he needed to be with his soldiers. He knew that if he was with his soldiers, they were more likely to be successful. They were more likely to be safe.

About 1 week before he was killed by an IED, some of his men were killed by an IED right in front of him, and he sent an email back to his family; and in that email he essentially said this: I do not fight for some ideology. I fight for that man to my left and that man to my right. They are men of their word. When called, they did not run. They came and did their duty. I had to also. Don't worry about me.

Victor Anderson represents the kind of quality that we have in our Armed Forces in sergeants, and I just bless every one of them and thank them for their service.

Madam Speaker, at this point I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, urging all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, as a fellow NCO, my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, and also my good friend, Mr. Wilson from South Carolina, I rise today to draw my colleagues' attention to House Joint Resolution 44, an act that would recognize the valiant efforts and heroism of the noncommissioned officers of the United States Army.

I would like to commend Chairman Skelton for his introduction and leadership and sponsorship of this bill, a token of appreciation for those who serve to protect our Nation and our ideals of freedom.

The noncommissioned officer rank has a long and rich history in the United States Army, originating with the Continental Army in 1775. The most visible leaders of the service, the noncommissioned officers have been the backbone of the Army for more than 230 years.

Often referred to as the ``eyes and ears'' of a commander, noncommissioned officers are not only sought

after for their advice and guidance, but they are the standard keepers of the service, dedicated to the upholding of the Army's and our country's values. Responsible for the training of the Army's future leaders, the noncommissioned officer is integral in executing any given mission of the service.

Madam Speaker, from my own little district of American Samoa, and as a fellow American Samoan, I am very proud to share this little bit of news with my colleagues here in the House today.

Just a few weeks ago, a fellow Samoan, Command Sergeant Major Iuniasolua Savusa, a ranger in the 101st Airborne, was recently selected by Admiral Timothy Keating as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the U.S. Army Pacific Command, or PACOM. In other words, the Command Sergeant Major of all the U.S.; not just Army, but the entire unified military command under the Pacific Command currently in Hawaii led by Admiral Keating.

This command was established in 1947 by President Truman and is considered the largest of the United States' unified commands and consists of approximately 250,000 military personnel. Command Sergeant Major Savusa has a long and substantial career in the U.S. Army. He has served overseas all throughout Europe and was instrumental in the initial incursion of Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom, former Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army Europe, and also Former Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army Central Command.

Command Sergeant Major Savusa is an example of the Toa o Samoa, or many of the Samoan soldiers who are enlisted and have served in the many branches of the Armed Forces.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Command Sergeant Major Ace Vimoto; Command Sergeant Major Charles Tobin; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kokolua Yandall; Command Sergeant Major Falaniko, retired; and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Save Liuato Tuitele for their contributions to our military.

I must pay a special tribute to Command Sergeant Majors Vimoto and Falaniko for they both had sons who enlisted in the Army and have given the ultimate sacrifice to our country. The son of Command Sergeant Major Falaniko, Private First Class Jonathan Falaniko, was killed in Iraq; while the son of Command Sergeant Major Vimoto, Private First Class Timothy Ray Vimoto, was killed in Afghanistan. We must honor these fathers and sons for their selfless sacrifice and the sacrifice they have made in the protection of our freedoms.

I cannot express the immense pride I have in those who persevere daily to protect the freedom and integrity of the United States. Noncommissioned officers of the United States Army are perhaps the most visible embodiment of the moral character and strength of the U.S. Army.

I would like to remind my colleagues that this recognition by Congress is the least that can be done to express a deserved gratitude of those who have served and those who continue to serve in our Army today.

With that, Madam Speaker, I again commend my good friends for their management of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support of House Joint Resolution 44, which I introduced on April 29, 2009. This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of our Army's Noncommissioned Officers.

As the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am privileged to be joined here today by a number of my colleagues in the House to recognize the service, sacrifice, professionalism and commitment of all those who serve and have served our Nation as Noncommissioned Officers in the United States Army.

Our Nation's Noncommissioned Officers are unlike any other in the world. While many consider them the backbone of the force, I believe they are really the soul of the force. Not only do they provide the leadership, training and mentoring of junior enlisted personnel, but they also are responsible for the development and guidance of our junior officers as well. The responsibilities that an Army Noncommissioned Officer carries are vast, but they often carry out their responsibilities with little fanfare and official recognition. This resolution seeks to acknowledge their contributions, particularly over the last eight years of conflict.

The history of the Army Noncommissioned Officer began with the birth of the Continental Army in 1775. The first Sergeant Major of the Army was Sergeant Major Willion O. Wooldridge. Since then, there have been 13 Sergeant Majors of the Army, and the currently serving Sergeant Major is Kenneth 0. Preston. He is the highest ranking Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army.

Army Noncommissioned Officers live by the NCO Creed, which was written in 1974, and adopted officially by the Army in 1985. The Creed reads:

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned

Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer,

I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which

is known as ``The Backbone of the Army.'' I am proud of the

Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times

conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the

Military Service and my country regardless of the situation

in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position

to attain pleasure, profit or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities

will always be uppermost in my mind--accomplishment of my

mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to

remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of

my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my

responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are

entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that

leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their

needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my

soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and

impartial when recommending both rewards and punishments.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish

their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will

earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my

soldiers. I will be loyal to those with

whom I serve; seniors, peers and subordinates alike. I will

exercise initiatives by taking appropriate action in absence

of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral

courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to

forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers,

leaders!

The creed of the Noncommissioned Officer of the United States Army captures the essence of how these individuals live their daily lives. I am honored to have introduced this resolution and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Joint Resolution 44 to commend the service of the Army's Noncommissioned Officers.