Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Nation should honor and recognize military families who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the country should honor the military families who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 713 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 713

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Nation 
      should honor and recognize military families who have been 
          disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2021

Mr. Vela submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Nation 
      should honor and recognize military families who have been 
          disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Whereas families all over the world are making sacrifices resulting from the 
        spread of COVID-19, but military families in particular are living in 
        tremendous uncertainty;
Whereas the families of members of the Armed Forces deployed around the world 
        and working on the front lines of the virus face enormous challenges 
        that are being exacerbated by the global pandemic;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces who become infected may result in military 
        families having to quarantine overseas;
Whereas delayed and canceled permanent change of station moves, restrictions on 
        travel, and stay-at-home orders are placing an exceptional amount of 
        stress on military families as they face challenges including 
        overextended leases, threatening loss of housing, and unexpected out-of-
        pocket expenses;
Whereas spouses of members of the Armed Forces are facing job loss or may be 
        unable to work because of the COVID-19 crisis, putting additional strain 
        on family budgets;
Whereas pandemic-related school closures can lead to food insecurity for 
        military families;
Whereas the closure of schools, the shift to distance learning, and limited 
        access to care for younger children, including the closure of child 
        development centers during the pandemic, place a major burden on 
        families, particularly those where a parent is deployed;
Whereas not all military families can afford the essential software, broadband 
        access, and equipment required for online school;
Whereas military personnel and their dependents dealing with mental and physical 
        health issues have difficulty maintaining continuity of care throughout 
        the pandemic;
Whereas military dependents with special needs rely heavily on assistance from 
        the Exceptional Family Member Program and other initiatives that may not 
        be able to provide hands-on assistance due to restrictions to slow the 
        spread of the virus;
Whereas the COVID-19 crisis may result in fluctuations in deployment or 
        reintegration schedules, adding further strain to an unpredictable time 
        for military families; and
Whereas communities and military leaders are working hard to support the 
        families of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the 
        reserve components, throughout this pandemic, the Nation owes a great 
        debt of gratitude for their exceptional sacrifices: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives to 
honor the military families who have been disproportionately affected 
by the COVID-19 crisis.
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