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HF 2917

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/11/2010 08:47am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/11/2010

Current Version - as introduced

1.1A resolution
1.2relating to payment of the Federal Respite Leave Benefit for members of the 1st
1.3of the 34th Brigade of the Minnesota National Guard who served in Iraq during
1.4the Troop Surge of 2007.
1.5WHEREAS, various units of the Minnesota's National Guard have served honorably in
1.6multiple peacekeeping and military combat deployments before and since September 11, 2001;
1.7and
1.8WHEREAS, the order for deployment of the 1st of the 34th Infantry Brigade of the
1.9Minnesota National Guard ordered the members of the Brigade into federal active military service
1.10under Title 10 U.S.C. for a period of 18 months; and
1.11WHEREAS, approximately 2,700 members of the 1st of the 34th Brigade who were
1.12deployed for the War in Iraq during 2007 had their deployment extended by the United States
1.13Department of Defense up to an additional four months in response to the troop surge in Iraq
1.14ordered by President George W. Bush; and
1.15WHEREAS, as a result of that Presidential order, the United States Government through its
1.16Department of Defense promised to pay a respite leave benefit to each of those soldiers valued at
1.17approximately $200 per day; and
1.18WHEREAS, for 2,513 of those 1st of the 34th Brigade soldiers, this benefit has yet to be
1.19paid by the United States Government; and
1.20WHEREAS, the cumulative benefit owed these soldiers for this benefit is approximately
1.21$10,000,000; and
2.1WHEREAS, the United States Congress enacted legislation on October 28, 2009,
2.2authorizing the service secretaries to implement the respite leave benefit program for those
2.3deserving service members; and
2.4WHEREAS, the current economic and employment situation facing all returning veterans
2.5is quite challenging; and
2.6WHEREAS, in order to return all the way home, the veterans of the 1st of the 34th Brigade
2.7deserve and need the benefits promised to them by the United States Government; NOW,
2.8THEREFORE,
2.9BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota that it urges
2.10the Secretary of Defense and other responsible federal government officials to promptly issue
2.11implementation guidance that will allow our Minnesota service members to submit their claims to
2.12receive these benefits that they have been officially promised by the United States Government
2.13and which they so honorably earned in combat.
2.14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives is
2.15directed to prepare copies of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and that of
2.16the Speaker, and transmit them to Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress, the
2.17Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.