Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am pleased to speak on amendment No. 1114 to S.1867, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Snowe, Casey, Leahy, Graham, Murkowski, Akaka, Pryor, Brown of Massachusetts, Tester, and Manchin. This amendment can be explained very simply. It expands the ability of Reserve component members and surviving spouses to travel on military aircraft when space is available. Members of the National Guard and Reserve and surviving military spouses make great sacrifices for our Nation. However, too often these individuals do not receive the benefits they have earned for their service. For example, Reserve component members' and retirees' space- available travel privileges are limited within the United States and their family cannot travel with them. As we all know, the National Guard and Reserve contributions to our Nation's defense since 9/11 are invaluable. There is no reason why their ability to travel on a military aircraft when space is available should be limited or restricted just because they are in the Guard or Reserve. They have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have lost comrades. Virtually every member of the National Guard in Alaska has deployed in support of Iraq or Afghanistan. Surviving spouses of a military member eligible for retired pay or of a member killed in the line of duty retain no space-available travel privileges at all after the death of their spouse.…”