Blake Moore: “Last September, I heard a National Public Radio story about troops coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq. They were…”

“Last September, I heard a National Public Radio story about troops coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq. They were being deposited at Baltimore and Atlanta, and from there forced to pay their own way home or stay in Baltimore and Atlanta. I could not believe this. I checked with my staff and found out it was in fact true. I drafted a bill which, within 8 days, I think, got 155 Republican and Democrat cosponsors. I teamed up with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) who just spoke, and we put our bills together. He had a similar vote which passed by voice vote. Unfortunately, it only went back, according to the Department of Defense, to December 19. Our intention was clearly that this be retroactive back to the date when this program started, the rest and recuperation, bringing our troops home to be reunited with their families and loved ones for 2 weeks before they went back to Afghanistan or Iraq to finish their tour of duty. Now, I am very, very pleased that Senate S. 2057, the Senate companion to H.R. 2731 that the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) and I had, will complete the job; and if the House passes this today, we will in fact ensure that the troops are entitled to be reimbursed for their travel prior to December 19 and will in fact be reimbursed. That is the right thing to do for our troops and country.”