National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 10, 2006)
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Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of H.R. 5122, the 2007 Defense Reauthorization.
In February 2006, I introduced legislation that would allow military families to mail packages postage-free to their loved ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the help of Chairman HUNTER, Sub-Committee Chairman MCHUGH, and Chairman TOM DAVIS, this legislation has been included in the underlying legislation we are currently debating.
I drafted the legislation in response to concerns expressed to me by many military families that it was becoming too costly for them to send regular care packages to their loved ones overseas. I heard story after story of families that were already finding it hard to make ends meet now having to spend as much as $1,500 a year to mail care packages. These packages bring a touch of home to our servicemembers--like pictures, cards and school projects from their children. But they also provide our military men and women with basic necessities like shampoo, powder, and phone cards.
In my district of Staten Island and Brooklyn, residents joined together and raised money to help military families send these packages over seas. I was inspired by the outpouring of support for our service men and women in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where postal service employees raised money to cover the postage for every package sent to our troops. On Staten Island, several groups dedicated to helping miltary families also raised money to help offset the cost of postage.
It was these acts of genorosity and partiotism that prompted me to introduce my legislation. And today, with the strong, bipartisan support of 133 of my colleagues, the House of Representatives will show our enduring support for our service men and women and their families.
It goes without saying that our servicemen and women are making enormous sacrifices fighting the War on Terrorism and defending freedom and liberty. They face great challenges under trying circumstances, and often without the benefit of basic necessities like blankets or toothpaste. It falls upon their families back home to get them these supplies and to cover the cost of shipping them overseas. This bill will help make life better for our soldiers and to ease the financial burden on those back home. It is a simple way to bring a touch of home to America's heroes overseas.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill and allow our military families an easier path to sending care packages to their loved ones.
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