Mitch Landrieu: “In Louisiana I have almost 40 percent of our Guard and Reserve who have been called up and activated. In Washington…”

“In Louisiana I have almost 40 percent of our Guard and Reserve who have been called up and activated. In Washington State, 46 percent, almost half of their Guard and Reserve, have been activated. In the State of Texas, 28 percent have been activated. We can see this in every part of this Nation from the east to the west. In Hawaii, 57 percent--57 percent, almost 60 percent of the Guard and Reserve from Hawaii have been called up to serve. These numbers may fluctuate as the needs of our military and the decisions made by the executive branch, the President and the Pentagon, change about where to shift these forces. But every one of these percentages represents thousands and thousands of families who are taking the direct burden of this. My question is, Why do we only have to help the Guard and Reserve or the Active Forces in the military bills, in the Defense bills? Why can't we help them in our health care bills, in our tax cut bills, in any way we can? If we can afford it, we should step up to the plate.”