 |
DoD Photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Holley |
(This statement by National Commander Marty Conatser issued through the Washington Office, via Hanoi, while Commander Conatser is discussing POW/MIA issue with the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).
WASHINGTON, DC (November 29, 2007) Following the Army’s announcement yesterday that it must prepare for reduced operations at all Army bases due to a lack of appropriations necessary to perform its war-fighting and strategic functions, The American Legion called on Congress to immediately pass the Emergency Supplemental Funding needed to support the Global War on Terrorism.
“Exactly what part of 'emergency' does Congress not understand?” said Marty Conatser, national commander of The American Legion. “Congressional failure to appropriate the funds needed to prosecute the war threatens the safety of our soldiers, sailors and Marines who we, as a nation, have placed in Harm’s Way. It is time for the political posturing to end, and for Congress to do its duty. We must not play politics with the lives of our fighting men and women.”
The Army is essentially planning to shut down or minimize operations in its support structure and in other less prominent but important worldwide missions and tasks.
“We know our armed forces need assured funding to provide the logistics and training vital to the men and women on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as for those stationed in 130 other countries around the world,” Conatser said.
Congress’ failure to fund our armed forces will also hurt our military families - the strength behind our armed forces.
“Lack of funds will close childcare facilities, close base schools, reduce base and military housing security and destroy the quality of life for the civilians who are carrying the greatest burden in this war -- military family members,” Conatser said. “We owe our service members and their families everything we’ve got!
“The American Legion calls on Congress to put partisan politics aside and unite behind our troops. While there may be many different opinions about the war being waged in Iraq, we cannot let the politics of the situation endanger the lives of our men and women at the front, nor can we allow our petty differences to further disrupt the lives of the families left behind. We urge Congress to authorize the supplemental funding needed without any further delay,” Conatser said.
The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of strong national defense, veterans affairs, Americanism and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s 2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
Comments (1)
Do you think that the American Legion family and other service organizations
if interested, could tell the men in congress that we
will not vote for them unless they give $500.00 of
their salary Per Month to the soldiers via each and every base. I am writing to President Bush and telling him to help back this up.
Would like your help!!
JB
Posted by Juddy Lynn Bridges | 12/03/07 1:45 PM |