Cravaack: Bring the Red Bulls All the Way Home, Protect the Promises Made to our Patriots

Press Release

Last evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4045, legislation which protects members of the Guard and Reserves impacted by the Pentagon's change to the Post Deployment/ Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) Program. Importantly, this legislation ensures that our service men and women can receive the paid leave they were promised prior to mobilization and deployment. Sponsored by Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (MN-2), this legislation provides returning service members with more time and a less-stressful environment in which to seek employment. Rep. Cravaack is an original co-sponsor.

Last year, after more than 2,000 Minnesota soldiers were deployed, the Pentagon made a change to the PDMRA program. In effect, this change significantly reduced their earned leave, which provides time for service members to spend with their families and find employment following deployment. In fact, members of the Minnesota Red Bulls stand to lose more than 27 days paid time-off.

"When I attended the Red Bulls' deployment ceremony last year in Pine City, Minnesota, one of the Commanding Officers in the brigade, Lt. Col. Eddie Frizell said to the families "I'll bring them all home.' True to his word, the first thing Lt. Col. Frizzell said in a hand salute to Major General Rick Nash, the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, when his feet touched the ground in Minnesota was "I brought them all home,'" said Rep. Cravaack, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. "I do not think it is too much to ask that that those who were promised 24 days of extra leave for up to two years of deployed service should receive that paid leave."

"With little notice, many soldiers and their families were forced to cope with unexpected financial challenges, less time at home with loved ones, and an increased urgency to find employment," said Rep. Kline, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. "This legislation is critical to ensuring our sons and daughters in uniform receive the benefits they were promised and rightfully earned. Tonight was a significant step toward making this commonsense effort to do right by our men and women in uniform law."

Rep. Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee -- where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee -- the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.

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