IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 387
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Rest and 
Recuperation Leave program for members of the Armed Forces serving 
in combat zones in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom should cover all travel and transportation costs nec-
essary to return members of the Armed Forces granted such leave 
to their homes located throughout the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 1, 2003
Mr. MOORE (for himself, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. EMER-
SON, Mr. FROST, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. DICKS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, 
Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. BAKER, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. UPTON, Mr. 
ALEXANDER, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. 
CARDOZA, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. 
FORD, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, 
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. 
LEE, Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Ms. 
MCCARTHY of Missouri, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. MEEK of 
Florida, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OSE, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. PE-
TERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. 
SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. SMITH of Washington, 
Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. TURNER of Texas, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, 
and Mr. WAMP) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Rest and Recuperation Leave program for members 
of the Armed Forces serving in combat zones in support 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Free-
dom should cover all travel and transportation costs nec-
•HRES 387 IH 
essary to return members of the Armed Forces granted 
such leave to their homes located throughout the United 
States.
Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces have 
been deployed in Afghanistan since 2002, and currently 
over 130,000 United States troops are deployed in Iraq 
with the likelihood of another 10,000–15,000 troops 
being sent overseas in the next few months; 
Whereas the current average length of stay for United States 
military personnel in Iraq is 12 months and the total ex-
tended time away from home for these troops is uncer-
tain; 
Whereas serving in wartime Iraq and lengthy absences from 
home can cause or exacerbate many personal conflicts for 
military personnel deployed there, as well as family and 
marital stresses; 
Whereas the Rest and Recuperation Program was created to 
provide relief and boost morale for military personnel 
serving on 12-month tours in Iraq and neighboring coun-
tries, by reuniting, albeit briefly, wives and husbands, 
parents and children, and friends and loved ones; 
Whereas members of the Armed Forces presently granted 
leave under the program are responsible for any travel to 
and from the approved port of debarkation in the United 
States, which leaves many of the members stranded or 
forced to foot the bill for connecting flights and transpor-
tation to their homes; and 
Whereas the expected cost to the United States for each 
member granted leave under the program is approxi-
mately $1,300 per member: Now, therefore, be it