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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 408 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 408

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      October 14, 2009.
Whereas since 2001, nearly 2,000,000 active duty and reserve sailors, soldiers, 
        airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel have deployed in support of 
        Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas the more than 1,800,000 family members of regular component members of 
        the Armed Forces and an additional 1,100,000 family members of reserve 
        component members make significant sacrifices on behalf of the United 
        States in support of their loved ones deployed overseas;
Whereas the readiness of the United States Armed Forces is predicated on the 
        ability of each member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast 
        Guard to focus on their mission during deployments;
Whereas the military necessity of long and often unpredictable deployments, 
        frequent relocations, and infrequent family contact for members of the 
        Armed Forces can be extremely challenging for members and their 
        families;
Whereas, in response to these sacrifices and challenges, family readiness 
        volunteers from each branch of the Armed Forces have stepped forward to 
        provide critical support during deployments to service members and their 
        families;
Whereas the family readiness volunteer programs in each service help commanding 
        officers have a better understanding of the welfare of the families 
        within his or her command during a deployment and allow families to be 
        informed about the status of their loved ones' unit overseas;
Whereas family readiness volunteers consist of Army Family Readiness Volunteers, 
        Navy Ombudsmen, Coast Guard Ombudsmen, Air Force Key Spouse Volunteers, 
        and Marine Corps Key Volunteers;
Whereas the thousands of family readiness volunteers are generally spouses of 
        members of the Armed Forces who provide assistance to military families 
        while also enduring the challenges of military life;
Whereas these volunteers are motivated by the desire to improve the lives of 
        other military families and to assist future generations;
Whereas family readiness volunteers also connect the community with military 
        families and local military installations, often leveraging donations 
        and resources for military families;
Whereas family readiness volunteers provide their services on a voluntary basis, 
        with little public recognition and financial assistance, and often 
        contribute their own resources to help other military families; and
Whereas the outstanding performance of our service members is a testament to the 
        great success of family readiness volunteers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and honors the family 
readiness volunteers of each branch of the Armed Forces who selflessly devote 
their time, talent, energy, and resources in service to the United States and 
commends family readiness volunteers for their dedicated contributions to the 
quality of life of members of the Armed Forces and their families.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
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