JACKSON LEE AMENDMENT SUPPORTS RESERVISTS’ FAMILIES

The United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed an amendment by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to the Defense Authorization Act that includes the number of deployments as a factor for determining whether a reservist is recalled to duty. Other factors include family responsibilities and length and nature of previous service. “The frequency of assignment must also be taken into consideration. As we have seen, our reservists are brave citizens and soldiers who have willingly traveled to the other side of the world to defend their homeland,” stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

The amendment makes no qualitative or quantitative judgment about type or occurrence of service and frequency of assignment must be included when recalling a reservist to duty, just as are family responsibilities, previous length and nature of service, and employment consequences. Forty percent of the American troops in Iraq are from National Guard and Reserve units. For many, the financial sacrifices are great. Many lose the salaries they were earning in the private sector, and their families are struggling to pay bills.