ProgressOhio

On May 6, 2008, Representative Betty Sutton (Ohio CD-13) introduced a resolution along with nine initial cosponsors, urging our military to end its “stop-loss” program. This much needed and forward-looking resolution succinctly calls for the immediate implementation of “a new stop-loss policy to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces who has completed a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan is subject to a stop-loss order.”

Under current policy, if a soldier is scheduled to deploy within 90 days of the end of his commitment, the Army may issue a stop-loss order to retain the soldier in the military for the length of the deployment and up to another 90 days after the unit returns to its home base. Since September 19, 2001, nearly 45,000 members of the Armed Forces have had their service involuntarily extended by stop-loss orders. The number of soldiers subject to stop-loss orders has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours from 12 to 15 months last year.

When passed, H. Res. 1177 will go far toward providing genuine support to our men and women patriotically answering America's call to duty. As Rep. Sutton states, “The Army's use of 'stop-loss' orders undermines the voluntary nature of military service and is unfair to our men and women in uniform and their families who have already sacrificed so much for our country.”

With understanding and foresight, Rep. Sutton does not stop there. She adds, “Policies such as stop-loss may enable the Army to maintain the size of its force in the short run, but are harmful to long term recruiting efforts. Instead of involuntarily retaining soldiers, the Army should support policies such as the new GI Bill, which will increase educational benefits for members of the military and be an effective recruitment tool.”

We encourage all throughout the ranks of PDA, and all concerned citizens wishing to correct the grave injustice done to our brave soldiers by the prolonged extension of their tours, to contact their elected congressional representative by mail, phone, and in personal visits in home districts and encourage them to co-sponsor this resolution. Find your representative's contact information here.

If your representative is already one of the bill's nineteen co-sponsors, we encourage you to thank them for their genuine support of our men and women of the Armed Forces. Find the co-sponsors and read the  text of H. Res.1177 here.

Freshman Rep. Sutton not only voted “NO” on the recent appropriation bill that would continue funding of the Iraq War and Occupation into the next president's term, she has also consistently and strongly supported working Americans by voting against the anti-worker FTA's for Peru and Columbia, votes much lauded by PDA and those working in its ranks on economic issues.

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