Robin Carnahan: “our Nation's Reserve components are assuming increasingly greater roles in the U.S. military. Today we have more…”

“our Nation's Reserve components are assuming increasingly greater roles in the U.S. military. Today we have more commitments around the world but fewer Active Forces. For these reasons, we have increasingly come to depend on our Reserve components. Since the gulf war, our Army and Marine Corps have increased their operations abroad by 300 percent. Air Force deployments have quadrupled since 1986. And our Navy now deploys 52 percent of its forces on any given day. These deployments would be impossible without guardsmen and reservists. Last year's Reserve components served a total of 12.3 million duty days, compared to 5.2 million duty days in 1992. It is time to recognize the contribution of our reservists and given them the benefits they deserve. We must find a way to provide immediate short-term relief to reservists who stand in need of our support, those who have just returned home from deployments abroad. Last month, Senator Leahy and six other colleagues set a goal to provide health care for all National Guard members and reservists. Senator Leahy's legislation recognizes the role that Reserve components now play in our national security. This bill authorizes a Defense Department study to develop the most feasible plan to provide health care for all Reserve components. Providing coverage to all reservists is a monumental task. It will require intense analysis in developing a cost-effective approach.”