The U.S. Army is the 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.

American Soldiers are men and women of skill, courage and imagination who fulfill their duty to train, deploy and fight. As a result, Soldiers and their Families deserve a quality of life and educational opportunities that are commensurate with 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 Army Chief of Staff has emphasized the criticality of sustainment by making it the first of four imperatives. Sustainment includes the need to ensure that the quality of life the Army provides to Soldiers and their Families is second to none. 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, a number of issues remain.

WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to urge the Administration and Congress to:

• Fund the elimination of inadequate Army Family Housing by 2009 and the renovation and modernization of Soldiers’ barracks to one plus one or equivalent 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 that addresses the educational needs of military children to preclude these children from being disadvantaged in public schooling
  
  
• Fully fund the DOD Impact Aid initiatives ensuring that school districts affected by Global Rebasing, Base Realignment and Closure, or Army modularization are provided adequate funds
  
  
• Encourage all states to support in-state tuition for servicemembers 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, high 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 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
  
  
• 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 after, 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