III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 165 

To encourage the recognition of 2009 as the ‘‘Year of the Military Family’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 2, 2009 

Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, and Mr. 

GRAHAM) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

To encourage the recognition of 2009 as the ‘‘Year of the 

Military Family’’. 

Whereas there are more than 1.8 million family members of 

regular component members of the Armed Forces and an 

additional 1.1 million family members of reserve component members; 

Whereas slightly more than half of all members of the regular 

and reserve components are married, and just over 40 

percent of military spouses are 30 years or younger and 

60 percent of military spouses are under 36 years of age; 

Whereas there are nearly 1.2 million children between the 

ages of birth and 23 years who are dependents of regular 

component members, and there are over 713,000 children 

between such ages who are dependents of reserve component members; 

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•SRES 165 ATS 

Whereas the largest group of minor children of regular component members consist of children between the ages of 

birth and 5 years, while the largest group of minor children of reserve component members consist of children 

between the ages of 6 and 14 years; 

Whereas the needs, resources, and challenges confronting a 

military family, particularly when a member of the family 

has been deployed, vastly differ between younger age children and children who are older; 

Whereas the United States recognizes that military families 

are also serving their country, and the United States 

must ensure that all the needs of military dependent children are being met, for children of members of both the 

regular and reserve components; 

Whereas military families often face unique challenges and 

difficulties that are inherent to military life, including 

long separations from loved ones, the repetitive demands 

of frequent deployments, and frequent uprooting of community ties resulting from moves to bases across the 

country and overseas; 

Whereas thousands of military family members have taken on 

volunteer responsibilities to assist units and members of 

the Armed Forces who have been deployed by supporting 

family readiness groups, helping military spouses meet 

the demands of a single parent during a deployment, or 

providing a shoulder to cry on or the comfort of understanding; 

Whereas military families provide members of the Armed 

Forces with the strength and emotional support that is 

needed from the home front for members preparing to 

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•SRES 165 ATS 

deploy, who are deployed, or who are returning from deployment; 

Whereas some military families have given the ultimate sacrifice in the loss of a principal family member in defense 

of the United States; and 

Whereas 2009 would be an appropriate year to designate as 

the ‘‘Year of the Military Family’’: Now, therefore be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses its deepest appreciation to the 

3 families of members of the Armed Forces who serve, 

4 or have served, in defense of the United States; 

5 (2) recognizes the contributions that military 

6 families make, and encourages the people of the 

7 United States to share their appreciation for the 

8 sacrifices military families give on behalf of the 

9 United States; and 

10 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

11 and the Department of Defense to observe the ‘‘Year 

12 of Military Family’’ with appropriate ceremonies and 

13 activities. 

Æ 

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