Guam-Northern Marianas Employment Support of the Guard and Reserve 25th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Guam-Northern Marianas Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for 25 years of valued service supporting our islands' service men and women seeking civilian employment. Since 1997, the Guam-Northern Marianas ESGR has been instrumental in connecting our islands' National Guard and Reserve members with employers that understand and cooperate with one's commitment to military service. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of our Nation's Guard and Reserve units, should they be called upon for duty or disaster emergencies.

The Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Army Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve are on the frontlines of securing our Nation from threats around the world. In fact, the National Guard and Reserve forces comprise nearly half of our U.S. military strength. Recently, Reserve Component forces have been activated across America to assist efforts to respond to, mitigate, and control the COVID-19 pandemic. And, with more than 2,700 service members on Guam, Saipan, Rota, and Tinian, Guam and the Marianas enjoy the highest Reserve membership per capita anywhere in the United States.

That is why the work of Guam-Northern Marianas ESGR is so important to supporting the well-being of our islands and our Nation. Our service men and women make tremendous sacrifices answering the call to serve, as do their employers whose deployed Guard and Reserve members can no longer offer their skills and services for months at a time. Yet because of ESGR, these service members are comforted by the knowledge of job security upon returning home and their employers are rewarded with a uniquely dedicated workforce.

I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking and celebrating Guam- Northern Marianas ESGR for their exceptional service and commitment to our islands' service men and women.

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