John Drake: “section 511 of the underlying bill establishes several factors that should be considered when deciding whether a member…”

“section 511 of the underlying bill establishes several factors that should be considered when deciding whether a member of the Selected Reserve should be involuntarily mobilized under what is known as Presidential Select Reserve. These factors include length and nature of previous service and family responsibilities. This amendment adds an additional category, frequency of assignments throughout a career. For the last 15 years, the members of the Reserve components have responded magnificently when mobilized. They have answered the Nation's call repeatedly in Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and other places. So smoothly have these mobilizations gone that it is sometimes easy to forget that each time the orders went out jobs were set aside, lives were disrupted and dreams were put on hold. This amendment recognizes the fact that Reservists have been repeatedly mobilized and that as long as they remain members of the Reserve components they will be subject to future mobilizations. The decision to involuntarily mobilize members of the Selected Reserves should never be taken lightly, and the commitment and dedication of these men and women should never be unfairly tasked. This amendment recognizes these ideals. I commend the gentlewoman from Texas for offering it. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment and ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”