Judd Gregg: “I rise in support of Senator Wellstone's amendment, of which I am an original cosponsor. Senator Wellstone has…”

“I rise in support of Senator Wellstone's amendment, of which I am an original cosponsor. Senator Wellstone has identified a problem which just cries out to be examined and answered. National Guard personnel are really extraordinary people who serve us as citizen soldiers. They give up their daily lives, they put tremendous stress on their families to serve us, and it's truly inappropriate that they should not be treated with the deference and the fair treatment that they would get if they were called up under a different circumstance. What Senator Wellstone is doing here is correcting what was an obvious loophole in the understanding of how the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 would work and is applying that Act to our National Guard men and women who are called up as a result of a national emergency declared by the President but who happen to be called up by Governors, and so it is an extremely appropriate action. It's certainly something that should be done at this time and should be done quickly so that those folks who are guarding our airport, our borders, and may well be in harm's way, but are certainly giving up their private lives in order to make our lives safer through their public service should receive fair treatment from our Government.”