National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand here to recognize and honor the servicemembers of the National Guard and Reserve components.

Over the last few years, our National Guard soldiers have been more in the spotlight than ever before. These men and women proved true to their motto of ``Always Ready, Always There,'' as they face some of our Nation's toughest times.

We have seen guardsmen from all over the country help in ways we never thought would be needed or possible: a 5-month deployment to defend the U.S. Capitol; to assist in an attempt to secure the southern border; to aiding our healthcare workers in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations and other COVID-related assignments. These men and women leave behind their loved ones and livelihoods to assist all Americans when we most need it.

Today is an opportunity for Members of the House to thank these brave soldiers for the tremendous work and sacrifice our Guard and Reserve servicemembers have endured since the first muster of militia forces to present day.

There are a lot of issues that divide our Nation and Congress, but I know for certain that support for our National Guard and Reserve continues to be bipartisan. I am proud of the work we are doing to assist these soldiers, their families, and the mission.

Not all Members have a military base, but almost everyone has a National Guard Armory and National Guardsmen in their district.

I look forward to hearing from more of my colleagues today as we take this moment to thank them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Kahele), the co-chair of the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my cochair, Representative Kahele, for his remarks. Also to be noted, the Representative is an Air Force veteran, and he is also a current Air National Guardsman. He has served in multiple theaters including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. So we appreciate his service to the Nation not just as a Representative but also as a veteran.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the State of Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), who has spent 36 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard. He currently serves as a major general throughout his deployments. He has also earned two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge, and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury Medals for his service. He also serves on the Armed Services Committee where he is a huge asset for our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Kelly for his remarks and his service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who is a former Texas Army Guard and U.S. Army Reserve officer. He has over seven major commands and over 25,000 guardsmen in his great State. I know he is a huge supporter of them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin for his service not only in the military but also in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also I thank him for what the Texas National Guard is doing to try to secure our border in Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey). Representative Carey also is a former Army Guard officer. He represents 18,000 guardsmen. Actually, Ohio has 18,000 guardsmen and nine major commands Army and Air. So I thank my friend for his service and for his participation tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Carey. I know the State is very proud of his support of the Ohio National Guard and all the military services that he has.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens). Burgess Owens represents Utah's Fourth Congressional District, a State that has 11 major commands and over 7,500 guardsmen. Fortunately, Representative Owens serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, so I know he appreciates our guardsmen and servicemembers, and he is looking out after the homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), who is from Michigan's First Congressional District. Representative Bergman was a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi. He is also, notably, the highest-ranking combat veteran to have ever served in the House of Representatives.

General Bergman, being over the 4th Marine Division gives you insight that many people don't understand. Being able to connect the relationships between the actual serving member, their family, and their employer is extremely important.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from the great State of Mississippi (Mr. Guest). He represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Michael also serves as the vice ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, so he definitely takes homeland security and national security very seriously. He loves the Guard so much, he even hired a retired Adjutant General to serve on his staff. Thank you for being here.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia's Ninth District (Mr. Clyde). Congressman Clyde has served as a U.S. Navy officer for over 28 years, with three combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. We appreciate him being here to support our National Guard and Reserve components.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas' Sixth Congressional District (Mr. Ellzey). Congressman Ellzey is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and flew 860 helicopters, F-14 Tomcats, FA-18 Hornets, and Super Hornets, and served five combat tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.

If I may just note, since you are a graduate of the Naval Academy, I actually happen to serve on the Board of Visitors for the Naval Academy. My best experience was in 2011 when a little team called Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was able to travel up to Annapolis and put a beatdown on the Naval Academy. It only happened once, but once in a lifetime is good for me.

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma's First Congressional District (Mr. Hern), my good friend. He has five major commands and over 10,000 guardsmen.

From his actions and deeds, he is truly supportive of not just our Active Duty but our Guard and Reserve components. Thank you for being here tonight.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I recognize a colleague of mine from Virginia's Sixth District. He has seven major commands and over 9,000 guardsmen. I would like to note he serves on the Appropriations Committee. Ninety-two percent of all funding that guardsmen receive comes from the Federal Government through his committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Cline so much for his remarks.

At this time, I would like to introduce Congressman Carter from Georgia's First Congressional District, where they host eight major commands in his State and over 16,000 patriotic guardsmen.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Carter for those wonderful remarks.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Madam Speaker, as a former Marine Corps reservist and current member of the National Guard, I am proud to represent my fellow Mississippi guardsmen in Congress.

It is no secret that Mississippi has a continued history of support of our Armed Forces. The south Mississippi community understands what backing our military every step of the way truly means.

I am proud to have been able to lead the way on a project that directly benefits the guardsmen in Mississippi and across America.

The Mobilization and Annual Training Equipment Site, MATES, located at Camp Shelby, would update the current MATES facility that was built in 1984 and was designed to handle smaller models of armored vehicles. This new facility would construct 52,000-square feet of maintenance training bays and supporting facilities that are currently being utilized to maintain the equipment that supports the readiness of two heavy brigade teams.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am happy to have been able to assist our guardsmen in securing funding for this project in the fiscal year 2022 omnibus bill.

The MATES facility at Camp Shelby is a crucial asset to south Mississippi and our national defense. These funds will make the work of our National Guard at Camp Shelby safer and more efficient as well as boost the surrounding economy.

The National Guard and Reserve Caucus is committed to pursuing legislative and policy initiatives that ensure the National Guard and Reserve components have strong representation on policy, procurement, force structure, and utilization within the Department of Defense.

This caucus is one of the largest and most bipartisan caucuses in the House. As co-chair of this caucus, I am excited to highlight a few of the caucus' legislative priorities and recent policy wins for our guardsmen.

H.R. 3626, the National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act was included in the final version of the NDAA and was signed into law on December 27, 2021. This legislation would require the military to provide Reserve and National Guard servicemembers incentive and special duty pay at the same rate as their Active Duty counterparts. I am also thankful for previous Co-Chair Tim Ryan's leadership on this bill that will ensure guardsmen are receiving pay parity.

Additionally, I was proud to see current Co-Chair Kai Kahele's 1095 Rule Amendment Act included in the most recent NDAA that recently went into effect. This law will strengthen the National Guard and Reserve by increasing the maximum days reservists can serve on Active Duty. I thank Congressman Kahele for his steadfast work on this victory that directly benefits all guardsmen.

Going forward, the caucus will continue to push on legislative priorities that will benefit our guardsmen and reservists. I encourage all of my colleagues to join the caucus and receive monthly updates on legislation that benefits the National Guard and Reserve components and also share with the caucus success stories of their own National Guard.

Madam Speaker, I am about to close, but I have one more gentleman I would like to yield time to.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

A Tribute to Mickey Gilley

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. I thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to host this Special Order today. It was great to hear from each of my colleagues on the importance of our Guardsmen and Reservists. I thank all who participated, and I look forward to working together on the issues that lie ahead.

Finally, I thank all our National Guardsmen, our Reservists, and their families. The work you are doing is making America better, you are making America safer, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my fellow marine and fellow guardsman, Mr. Palazzo, for his dedication to being one of the co- chairs of the Guard and Reserve Caucus.

It reminds me of continued service that members of the Guard and Reserve do every day in communicating to the general public the value of what it means to have a ready Guard and Reserve, but also here in Congress, the continuing education for all of our Members so that they understand in their States the importance of maintaining a ready Guard and Reserve.

May is National Military Appreciation Month. So is June. So is July. So is August. So is September. I would suggest to you, we should be thankful continually for the men and women who always are standing by at the ready when our country needs them.

Whether it is a humanitarian assistance mission, a disaster relief mission, a border security mission, a mobilized go-to-the-fight kind of mission anywhere in the world, our Guard and Reserve stand ready.

But in that readiness comes the requirement to properly fund the Guard and Reserve, and in the military, it is always a competition for resources. I believe the combination of States, because the Governor of every State is the commander in chief of their Guard units--Reserve units, different story. They are under the command of the different services.

But the readiness and the support that is offered by each State and its Governor to ensure that their Guard units are ready to go, whether they are Army Guard, whether they are Air Guard, no matter what it is, is essential to not only the State readiness but the overall readiness we need as a country in the very complex world in which we live.

A special thanks tonight to the families of those guardsmen and reservists because those guardsmen and reservists work a Monday through Friday job, let's say. On Friday night, when a lot of their peers leave their jobs and go home to go play golf or go fishing or whatever, they are packing their kits and going to drill weekends or a 2-week annual training or whatever it is.

The sacrifice of time that the guardsmen and reservists make at the expense of their family time is something, again, we should never, ever take lightly and always remember because it is those young children who wonder why Mom and Dad are not around on Saturday and Sunday. Then they see the picture of them wearing the uniform and doing the kind of duty that we need in the United States of America. We cannot thank the family enough.

Having said that, in thanking the family, the commanders of the units know very well that good training time means that you are busy, you are doing good things, and if there is nothing to do, secure and go home and spend time with your families because it is the family that keeps everybody together.

Speaking of keeping things together, employers a lot of times don't understand the sacrifices that their men and women are making on the weekends. They just see them as good employees Monday through Friday. I thank the employers.

There is a group called the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. They have done a great job across the country to ensure that the relations between the Guard and Reserve and the employers are such that there is no misunderstanding of why a person may ask for an extra day or 2 to leave for extra Guard duty to do a longer drill weekend. My thanks to the employers as well.

On a little personal note, when it comes to Michigan, in fact, today I met with the Adjutant General of the Michigan Guard. As a State, Michigan has some very unique and productive training areas. We are a State with a lot of water around us. We have a lot of woods. Camp Grayling, in kind of the central part of lower Michigan, really is an example of what a National Guard training base could and should look like around the country.

We have multinational exercises every year, Exercise Northern Strike, and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. We are one of the few areas where the fighters have unfettered access to unrestricted training areas to do live ordnance.

We need to have our pilots and our aircrews and all our shooters ready to go. I am proud to represent that part of Michigan that houses Camp Grayling.

Of course, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, down kind of closer toward Detroit, it is a base with a future because it is one of the few bases that is not a joint base where you have military and civil aviation going together. The ability of the Air Guard, of the Air Force Reserve, of any of the Reserve components that fly to put capabilities at Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a win-win for not only our defense posture but, quite honestly, for the State of Michigan when it comes to providing bang for the buck in the defense dollar.

I could tell you a lot of stories over a long time. In my command, my last command, as the commanding general of the Marine Corps Reserve, whether they are a marine, a sailor, an airman, a soldier, a soon-to-be space guardian in a Reserve component, Coast Guard, the men and women who serve, the missions that they are ready to do give me confidence in our ability as the United States military to not only go to the fight but to do the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We are in good hands because of the commitment of the men and women who wear the uniform.

My friend, Congressman Palazzo, thank you for leading this. Thank you for calling attention to the fact that without our Guard and Reserve, we are less ready as a country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of country music legend, Mickey Gilley. Mickey Gilley passed away Saturday, May 7, in Branson at the age of 86.

Born on March 9, 1936, Mickey was a native of Natchez, Mississippi, where he grew up around his two famous cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart.

In his career, Mickey earned 39 top 10 hits and 17 number-one songs, with six Academy of Country Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was a member of the 2011 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Gilley was also one of few artists to have received the Academy of Country Music's Triple Crown Award.

But it was the opening of a country dance club bearing his name that changed the world of country music

forever. It was 1971 when Mickey Gilley officially opened the doors of his famous honky-tonk, Gilley's.

Gilley's reputation grew so much that Hollywood even took notice with the hit movie, ``Urban Cowboy''--some of y'all have probably seen it-- where he even made an appearance alongside John Travolta, Debra Winger, and Johnny Lee.

Inspired by the real-life romance of a pair of the club's patrons, ``Urban Cowboy'' put Gilley's on the map, revived music careers, launched other careers, introduced two-stepping to a whole new audience, and created a lifestyle that has been adopted by millions.

Following his role in ``Urban Cowboy,'' Mickey Gilley found himself performing in the main showrooms in places like Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, Atlantic City, and even traveling to Europe to perform. Gilley even performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Over the decades, Gilley appeared in a number of popular television series, including ``The Fall Guy,'' ``Fantasy Island,'' ``Dukes of Hazzard,'' ``Murder, She Wrote,'' and ``CHiPS.''

Not only will Mickey Gilley's music live on in the hearts of so many who loved his music, but his cultural influence cannot be understated. ``Urban Cowboy'' became an American phenomenon, and it was influenced by the real-life stories of Gilley's patrons Dew Westbrook and Betty Helmer. ``Urban Cowboy'' told the story of a west Texas farmhand new to the area and working his job at a refinery.

This film introduced country-western dance to America and created a lifestyle adopted by millions. Even more surprisingly, it directly resulted in the most unlikely outcome of all, country-western music becoming mainstream. Once considered outdated hillbilly attire, cowboy hats and belt buckles were back in, and they became high fashion.

Recently, on Saturday, July 29, Mickey Gilley came to the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce's celebration: ``The 50th Anniversary of Gilley's and the 42nd Anniversary of Urban Cowboy.'' It was a great celebration with thousands, and Mickey sang for us, delighting the crowd. We even presented him with a copy of a tribute I did to him on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a plaque commemorating the event.

Mickey Gilley will be missed, but his legacy will live on not only in the hearts and minds of those who loved his music, but also in America's love for country music. Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, and pickup trucks will all be remembered because of him. Mickey Gilley has even been featured in the popular ``Texas Hot Country Magazine.''

Gilley was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian, who passed in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Loeb Gilley; his children, Kathy, Michael, Gregory, and Keith Ray; four grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart.

Thank you, Mickey Gilley, for introducing our way of life to the world. You will forever be a legend.

Mourning the Loss of Ken Clark

Madam Speaker, I have one more notable who has passed in our great district, so will also commemorate him.

I rise today to mourn the loss of our great Galveston County Precinct 4 Commissioner, Ken Clark. He was Galveston County's longest-serving elected official. Ken had become a commissioner in 1998, and he has been an active member of our community for even longer.

Ken has been an instrumental community leader for several decades and a dedicated public servant. In his time, he has served on the State Republican Executive Committee, he has served as Sergeant at Arms of the Republican Party of Texas, he has served as Galveston's Municipal Utility District president, and received the Republican Party's Volunteer of the Year award. Ken also worked extensively with a wide variety of community organizations and tirelessly worked to improve the lives of those who lived in Galveston County.

I first met Ken when he worked on former Congressman Steve Stockman's campaign. Ken was a go-getter, a great conservative, and a great Republican back then and even more so now. Ken was a devoted public servant, a husband, a father, and a mentor. He loved Jesus Christ, and it showed.

Commissioner Clark, you will be sorely missed, but we will see you again. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your wonderful wife, Sherry, and y'all's seven children.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Palazzo for hosting this Special Order this evening and recognizing the tremendous service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the National Guard and the Reserve components of our Armed Forces. I also thank the gentleman for his service in the Mississippi Guard.

It is also certainly fitting to honor these often unsung heroes as we celebrate Military Appreciation Month.

While the National Guard was founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636, the Virginia National Guard traces its history and tradition of citizen-soldier service to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. There has been a military presence defending Virginia ever since.

The Virginia National Guard's current strength is 7,200 soldiers, 1,200 airmen, 300 Virginia Defense Force members, and 400 Federal and State civilians. They bring more than $250 million in annual income into the Commonwealth.

The Virginia National Guard currently has more than 2,000 personnel serving on Federal Active Duty with units conducting missions in the United States, Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and Kosovo, the most since 2007. The 29th Infantry Division has the most divisional soldiers on Federal duty since World War II, with units deployed from Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.

Currently, Virginia Air National Guard pilots and maintainers assigned to the 192nd Wing from Joint Base Langley-Eustis are currently supporting the 1st Fighter Wing's deployment at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, to provide short-notice air superiority to U.S. Central Command amid a series of recent attacks in the region.

Approximately 120 Virginia National Guard soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters are on Federal Active Duty to take responsibility for the NATO-led Kosovo Force Regional Command-East, and approximately 140 soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division are mobilized to serve as their aviation task force. NATO KFOR troops conduct peace support operations, contributing to a safe and secure environment for all the people in Kosovo while healthy political dialogue continues between Kosovo and Serbia.

Approximately 300 National Guard soldiers assigned to the Norfolk- based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are on Federal Active Duty conducting training to provide personnel and site protection using the Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar System, or C-RAM, in the Central Command area of operations in the Middle East.

Approximately 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky National Guard soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are on Federal Active Duty as Task Force Red Dragon as a security force in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Approximately 80 soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group are currently on Federal Active Duty in the Central Command Area of Operations under the operational control of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve serving as the base operating support-integrator for multiple installations.

Finally, approximately 500 Virginia and Maryland National Guard soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th

Infantry Division are currently on Federal Active Duty in the Central Command Area of Operations as Task Force Spartan to provide leadership, command, control, and in-depth staff analysis for Operation Spartan Shield.

As we celebrate Military Appreciation Month, let us never forget those who are serving and who have given their last full measure while wearing our Nation's uniform, those who are still on the front lines in places both known and unknown, and the families who are asked to carry the burden while their loved ones are away.

May God continue to bless our troops and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud and honored to recognize the accomplishments and sacrifices of our National Guard and Reserve component men and women.

The history of the National Guard and Reserve predates the birth of our Nation. In Mississippi we have the sixth oldest active regiment, the First Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment--the Mississippi Rifles.

For over 250 years, brave Americans have answered the call to service to protect both our homeland and democracies abroad, and to conduct disaster response or support to civilian authorities during a crisis.

Our reservists and Guard members bring a unique skill set to our Armed Forces, leveraging their expertise and real-world experiences from the civilian workforce to bring an exceptional and innovative perspective to our national defense.

In addition to deployments overseas, Guard and reservists are employed across the broad and diverse mission set, whether it is responding to civil unrest in our Nation's Capitol, defending our borders, providing relief from hurricanes or other natural disasters, as well as responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, the Guard did a yeoman's work in the COVID response, and it was much less by building testing sites, by giving vaccinations, and by helping with all the logistics. We would not have gone as smoothly without our Guard.

As of today the Mississippi National Guard has forces deployed in support of four combatant commands around the world. During the pandemic, the Mississippi National Guard activated approximately 1,700 servicemembers who administered more than 765,000 vaccinations, 226,000 tests, and processed more than 109,000 lab samples supporting the Mississippi Department of Health.

Our logistics professionals traveled more than 665,000 miles throughout our State to deliver more than 58 million pieces of personal protective equipment to our hospitals, long-term healthcare facilities, clinics, and testing sites.

Since the global war on terror, the Guard has shifted from a strategic reserve force to an operational reserve, deploying in support of the same conflicts, fulfilling the same mission sets, and seeing the same combat against our enemies as the active component.

Within this service has come great sacrifice, and I honor the fallen Guard heroes who gave their lives in service of our country and its ideals in the global war on terror in addition to the countless other Guard lives lost in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.

One of these heroes is Sergeant First Class Sean M. Cooley, who I had the privilege of serving alongside in the 155th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq who was killed in action in Iraq on February 3, 2005. In his memory I introduced and had passed the House resolution that led to the Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship Program Act named for Sergeant First Class Sean Cooley and Specialist Christopher Horton, both of whom were Guardsmen.

In closing, it has been my life's honor to have served in the Mississippi National Guard for the past 36 years. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and within the Department of Defense to ensure that our National Guard components are resourced appropriately, maintain a high level of readiness, and receive the same benefits that they have earned in their service of our great Nation.