[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10] [Senate] [Pages 14088-14089] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated: POM-409. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana urging Congress to allow immediate family to visit military personnel on extended deployment overseas who are in a rest and relaxation period; to the Committee on Armed Services. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 101 Whereas, on April 12, 2007, when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced that all active-duty soldiers currently deployed would see their one-year tour extended to a fifteen months tour, the war-weary Army [[Page 14089]] faced its longest combat tours since World War; and Whereas, although Defense Secretary Gates termed this a ``difficult but necessary'' order, many referred to it as the decision that would break the Army because of the chilling effect it would have on the recruiting, retention, and readiness of troops; and Whereas, the reunion plans of troops and their families were suddenly placed on hold because of the deployment extension orders; and Whereas, such orders unleashed a flood of emotions including feelings of sadness, disappointment, worry, anxiety, anger, stress, and a sense of betrayal or of promises being broken for service men, women, and their families; and Whereas, mental health experts agree that deployment extensions are extremely difficult on service members and their families; and Whereas, extended deployment submerges our service men, women, and their families under tremendous economic, employment, and emotional sacrifices; and Whereas, service men and women do receive a period of rest and relaxation (R&R); and Whereas, the continued development of strong family relationships for our service men and women who have repeatly placed themselves in harm's way in the name of freedom, duty, and honor for us and our country should be supported. Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to make provisions to allow immediate family to visit military personnel on extended deployment overseas when they are in a period of rest and relaxation (R&R). Be it further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress. ____________________