IIA
103D CONGRESS
2ND SESSION
H. J. RES. 188
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
AUGUST 10 (legislative day, AUGUST 8), 1994
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
JOINT RESOLUTION
Designating November 21, 1994, as ‘‘National Military
Families Recognition Day’’.
Whereas the Congress recognizes and supports the Depart-
ment of Defense policies to recruit, train, equip, retain,
and field a military force that is capable of preserving
peace and protecting the vital interests of the United
States and its allies;
Whereas military families shoulder the responsibility of pro-
viding emotional support for their service members;
Whereas, in times of war and military action, military fami-
lies have demonstrated their patriotism through their
steadfast support and commitment to the Nation;
HJ 188 RFS
Whereas the emotional and mental readiness of the United
States military personnel around the world is tied to the
well-being and satisfaction of their families;
Whereas the quality of life that the Armed Forces provide to
military families is a key factor in the retention of mili-
tary personnel;
Whereas the people of the United States are truly indebted
to military families for facing adversities, including ex-
tended separations from their service members, frequent
household moves due to reassignments, and restrictions
on their employment and educational opportunities;
Whereas 75 percent of officers and 57 percent of enlisted
personnel in the Armed Forces are married;
Whereas families of active duty military personnel (including
individuals other than spouses and children) account for
more than half of the active duty community, and
spouses and children of members of the Reserves in paid
status account for more than half of the individuals in
the Reserves community;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of spouses, children, and
other dependents living abroad with members of the
Armed Forces face feelings of cultural isolation and fi-
nancial hardship;
Whereas the significantly reduced global military tensions
after the end of the cold war have led to a down-sizing
of the national defense and a refocusing on national pri-
orities to strengthening the American economy and com-
petitiveness in the global marketplace;
Whereas the Congress is grateful for such sacrifices and is
committed to assisting the service members and their
HJ 188 RFS
families who undergo the transition from active duty to
civilian life; and
Whereas military families are devoted to the overall mission
of the Department of Defense and have accepted the role
of the United States as the military leader and protector
of the free world: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That—
(1) the Congress acknowledges and appreciates
the commitment and devotion of present and former
military families and the sacrifices that such families
have made on behalf of the Nation; and
(2) November 21, 1994 is designated as ‘‘Na-
tional Military Families Recognition Day’’. The
President is authorized and requested to issue a
proclamation calling on the people of the United
States to observe the day with appropriate pro-
grams, ceremonies, and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives, August 5,
1994.
Attest:
DONNALD K. ANDERSON,
Clerk.