Caring for Soldiers and their families is a vital part of the defense of our nation and their commitment to serve. This requires the utmost attention of our leaders and the application of resources. The values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage go beyond the Soldier and include their families. The sacrifices and dedication of family members are significant and complement those of our Soldiers.

The U.S. Army is a decisive component of America’s national security and a critical part of the Joint team. Soldiers (Active and Reserve Component) are the heart of the Army and the foundation of combat power. The support and services that we as a nation provide Soldiers and their families are combat multipliers.

Soldiers fulfill their duty to train, deploy and fight and as a result, Soldiers and their families deserve a quality of life and educational opportunities that are equal to those of the citizens they defend. It is this faith in the reciprocity of commitment that forms the basis for Soldiers and their families to endure the unique hardships of military life. The level of medical care, pay and allowances, as well as dependent care and education benefits should properly reflect the demands and risks associated with the profession of arms. Demands on Soldiers and their families created by repeated deployments continue to generate additional challenges and concerns for families. Thus, the ability of the Army to deliver a Quality of Life that meets the needs of its Soldiers and their families worldwide is central to attracting and retaining high quality Soldiers as well as to force stabilization.

We commend the Administration and Congress for their efforts to address numerous issues related to improving the Quality of Life for Soldiers and their families; however, there are a number of issues that remain.

WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to urge the Administration and Congress to:

• Eliminate inadequate Army family housing and renovate Soldiers’ barracks to one plus one by 2010
  
• Continue funding maintenance and construction of Soldiers’ barracks and family housing at an acceptable level and continue to expand the use of public/private partnerships such as Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL)
  
  
• Fully fund the Federal Impact Aid Program in the U.S. Department of Education budget to preclude the children of military families from being disadvantaged in public schooling
  
  
• Encourage all states to support in-state tuition for Service members and their family members at institutions of higher learning
  
  
• Continue to fund the commissary system at a level that will ensure no increase in the current surcharge and limit the use of surcharge dollars to commissary store construction and maintenance
  
  
• Support full commissary and Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) access for military members at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) sites
  
  
• Fully fund programs, facilities, schools and housing necessary to maintain the Quality of Life at installations that receive significant increases in the number of Soldiers and family members due to Realignment prior to re-stationing
  
  
• Provide funding for affordable, quality child care and youth services programs
  
  
• Enact legislation that allows Soldiers to pay childcare expenses on a pre-tax basis
  
  
• Encourage all States to provide unemployment benefits for job loss based on a military relocation for the eligible servicemember’s spouse
  
  
• Change U.S. Department of Agriculture food and nutrition service eligibility so military members on temporary duty are considered as part of the household and count only the income received by the household where children reside
  
  
• Discourage states from violating the intent of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by taxing the income of military spouses at a higher rate due to the inclusion of the military member’s income in their total income calculation and continue to support the provisions of SCRA that protect activated Servicemembers
  
  
• Provide adequate funding for family support and benefit programs to meet the needs of Reserve Component deployments
  
  
• Fully fund the Relocation Assistance Program
  
  
• Amend legislation to authorize the Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) allowance of up to 60 days for areas experiencing a significant increase in personnel
  
  
• Continue to fund dependent schools operated by DoD for military children
  
  
• Fully fund Strong Bonds Relationship Building Program for all Soldiers and their families prior to, as well as post, deployment
  
  
• Provide adequate funding for skill building and employment programs such as: “Work Place Essentials”, the Army Spouse Employment Partnership and other programs that help the Soldier’s spouse and family members to increase skills and pursue personal careers