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Hill Supports Critical Military Readiness Standards

Press Release

Date: Aug. 2, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Military Personnel Foreign Affairs


Hill Supports Critical Military Readiness Standards

Bill mandates enhanced troop rest times

(Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill supported legislation mandating enhanced rest times for troops in Iraq today, H.R. 3159. The Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act requires the Department of Defense to adhere to their standards for length of deployments, training and time between deployments.

"Many of our troops in Iraq are on their second or third tour of duty over there," Hill said. "I don't think it's too much to ask the Defense Department to give them more time at home to spend with their families and recover, both physically and mentally, from their time overseas."

H.R. 3159 mandates troop rest time equals deployment times for active duty troops in Iraq. Under the bill, National Guard and reservists would be home for three times the length of their deployment. The bill does, however, contain a clause allowing the President to waive these requirements to meet national security needs of the country.

"Our troops have performed magnificently in Iraq," Hill said. "But, they are stretched thin, tired and overworked. This bill is an important step in providing our troops the time they need to spend with their families in between tours of duty."

The bill not only addresses longer rest times for active duty troops and reservists, but also speaks to the degrading of this country's military readiness. Such short breaks in between tours of duty have directly lead many officers to leave the military because of less time at home.

"I am proud to support legislation that supports our troops and their families," Hill said. "They sacrifice immensely to protect our freedoms, and we cannot continue to ask them to fight this war without providing them sufficient rest time. This war has seen alarming increases in mental health problems that are certainly exacerbated by soldiers seeing more of Iraq than their loved ones."


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