Senate Proceeding on Sep 19th, 2007 :: 5:57:38 to 6:06:34
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5:53:25 to 5:57:38( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Sherrod Brown

5:57:28 to 5:57:38( Edit History Discussion )

Sherrod Brown: puts the soldiers and their families first. they have done their job. mr. president, it's time that we do ours. i yield back. .thank you. ms. stabenow: mr. president? the presiding officer: the fi

5:57:38 to 5:57:56( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: senator from michigan is recognize ed for ten minutes. ms. stabenow: thank you, mr. president. and i want to thank my colleague from michigan, who we are so proud of, for all of his efforts efforts

5:57:38 to 6:06:34( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Debbie Stabenow

5:57:56 to 5:58:13( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: in supporting our troops and leet ing our efforts as it -- and leading our verts s as efforts as it relates to the defense of our country. mr. president, it's time to put aside the -- for a brief moment

5:58:13 to 5:58:23( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: the debate overall i think on the war and focus on the troops. regardless of whether or not you supported going into iraq or, as i did, vot ed "no" on going into that war, we come together. we hear frequently

5:58:23 to 5:58:37( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: from colleagues on both sides of the aisle that of course we support our troops. we want what is best for the brave men and women who are w fighting and are in harm's way, who didn't take that vote,

5:58:37 to 5:58:51( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: who didn't decide the policy, but who are in fact those that we asked to step up and to defend that policy and defend our country. so the question is, what is best for the troops on the ground right

5:58:51 to 5:59:02( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: now in the middle of these conflicts that have gone on now for over four and a half years? we are area here today to talk about what's best for our military, for our troops and for their families. we're

5:59:02 to 5:59:18( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: not here to debate the merits of the mission. i think certainly am willing to do that and do that with other amendments. but this particular amendment, senator webb's amendment, is an effort to

5:59:18 to 5:59:31( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: determine what makes sense when it comes to deploying our armed services, what is best for those who have been willing to put their lives on the line for our country, who follow the leadership of

5:59:31 to 5:59:47( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: thef department of defense and operate under the policy ies that have been set by this congress and this president president. what is very clear is that the current system is broken, mr. president,

5:59:47 to 6:00:01( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: for our trooms.| we're forcing ouror troops into longer and longer combat deployments and giving them shorter and shorter rest periods. we're demanding multiple combat deployments for very short periods

6:00:01 to 6:00:15( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: with many units on their second, their third or even their fourth redeployment in the war in iraq. we're denying the men and women who put their lives on the line for america the time they need off

6:00:15 to 6:00:29( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: from the front lines to recuperate, to retrain to, prepare themselves physically and mentally to return to combat. and just as important, mr. president, to spend time with their families, to be able to

6:00:29 to 6:00:46( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: reconnect with the loved ones that they leave behind when they have ge into this war. and we're placing an unfair and unreasonable burden on those military families, families who are willing to sacrifice,

6:00:46 to 6:01:00( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: who have sacrificed, families who count on us to be there for them, representing their interests and the interests of their loved ones who are on the front lines. we're doing all of it in the name of

6:01:00 to 6:01:19( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: -- they are doing all of it in the name of a policy that the military itself has indicated is not only unreasonable but unsafe. so the department of defense itself has said that the conditions under

6:01:19 to 6:01:35( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: which they are operating has been unreasonable and unsafe. historically, the department of defense, as has been said, has mandated a combat to rest ratio of 1-2, one month on twaorbgs months off, as an example.

6:01:35 to 6:01:50( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: one year in combat, two years at home. to rest, retrain and prepare for the next deployment. in fact, the historic one to two ratio is curntly the stated policy of the d.o.d. we're hearing from colleagues

6:01:50 to 6:02:07( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: on the other side of the aisle as if this is some outrageous idea that we put some parameters around the deployment and redeployment of our troops. and, yet, the stated policy of the department of

6:02:07 to 6:02:20( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: defense, one month or one year on, two months or two years here at home. the webb amendment nearly sets a one-to-one ratio, a floor that only gets us halfway to the standard the department of defense

6:02:20 to 6:02:33( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: itself has called for. the policies pursued by this administration have stretched our men and women in uniform to the breaking point. our armed forces are getting the job done under the most extreme

6:02:33 to 6:02:45( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: and trying conditions imaginable. most of us had an opportunity firsthand to see them in action, to see what they are doing and the conditions that they're operating under. they're getting the

6:02:45 to 6:02:59( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: job done. we knew they would. no one is surprised because we have the best and the praoeutest. -- and the brightest. but they are under extreme and trying conditions, and they face an enemy that

6:02:59 to 6:03:14( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: often can't be identified. they face an environment that is harsh and hot and unbearable. and they do their jobs with pride, with honor, with dignity, and most certainly with excellence. the current

6:03:14 to 6:03:30( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: deployment schedule places an unfair burden not only on our soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines, but on the families they leave behind. military families have in their own way been called to serve

6:03:30 to 6:03:44( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: this country, been called to sacrifice. and they demand our respect and support for the sacrifices they are making. what we're currently asking of them is just simply unreasonable. when our troops go into

6:03:44 to 6:03:57( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: combat, the people they leave behind are left to shoulder the burden of keeping the family together while mom or dad, mother, father, sister, brother are fighting in service to their country. they're

6:03:57 to 6:04:14( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: left to face not only the practical problems that come with having a family member gone for long stretches of time, but also the constant uncertainty and stress of simply not knowing what's happening for

6:04:14 to 6:04:27( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: their t loved one. are they safe? will they come home safely? our troops and their families have done everything we've asked of them. they have been there for america, and now the answer to the question

6:04:27 to 6:04:43( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: must be we will be there for them. the young americans who volunteer to put on the uniform and fight for our country are truly our best. they are the best trained, the best equipped, the bravest fighting

6:04:43 to 6:04:57( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: forces in the world. and they are one of the nation's most valuable assets and greatest resources. and current administration policy is abusing their willingness and desire to serve. mr. president,

6:04:57 to 6:05:07( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: this has to stop. by straining and stretching our military, we are undercutting our own national security. we're compromising everything that we have done to build up a force knack defend america -- force

6:05:07 to 6:05:20( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: knack defend america and properly response to the dangers we face in today's uncertain world. senator webb has crafted an amendment that addresses the concerns of our military leaders. it includes

6:05:20 to 6:05:33( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: reasonable waivers in the face of unexpected threats to america. it includes a transition window that will allow a shift in the deployment schedule without a disruption of our fighting forces. we have worked

6:05:33 to 6:05:48( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: with the military to develop a policy that makes sense. i commend senator webb for his foresight and for his willingness to work with the secretary of defense and others to make the changes, to make

6:05:48 to 6:05:59( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: this even more workable. we've compromised where it makes sense to strengthen the legislation, but we will not compromise on the safety of our troops troops or on the support of their families.

6:05:59 to 6:06:13( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: this amendment is not where we stand on the war. it's not about partisan politics. it's about doing the right thing for our troops and for their families. ies urge my colleagues to stand up and vote

6:06:13 to 6:06:34( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: for the webb amendment. and with the people that we have sent to war and their families waiting at home, and stand with all americans who want us to have the right kind of policy to support our troops