Congressional Record—Senate S3591
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April 26, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3591 KENNEDY), the Senator from Maine order to carry out the Call Home Act’s Communications Commission to seek ways (Ms. COLLINS), the Senator from New requirements. to reduce telephone rates for Armed Forces Mexico (Mr. BINGAMAN), the Senator The Call Home Act of 2006 would re- personnel deployed overseas. Everyday, military members deployed or from Massachusetts (Mr. KERRY), the place similar legislation from 1992 that assigned unaccompanied overseas are faced Senator from North Dakota (Mr. DOR- limited the FCC’s efforts to reduce with the burdens of being separated from GAN), the Senator from New York (Mrs. rates to specific countries. The Call families and loved ones. Your bill recognizes CLINTON), the Senator from Con- Home Act would expand the FCC’s ef- the burden these members and families en- necticut (Mr. LIEBERMAN) and the Sen- forts to benefit troops wherever they counter and takes an important step forward ator from South Dakota (Mr. JOHNSON) are deployed in support of the global to reduce the costs of high phone rates. were added as cosponsors of amend- war on terrorism. AUSA thanks you for introducing this leg- ment No. 3599 intended to be proposed We have received a letter of support islation and for your leadership on issues af- fecting all servicemembers and their fami- to H.R. 4939, a bill making emergency from the Military Coalition, which rep- supplemental appropriations for the lies. We pledge our strong support in seeking resents 36 military and veterans enactment of this important legislation. fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, groups. We have also received letters of Sincerely, and for other purposes. support from individual members of GORDON R. SULLIVAN, AMENDMENT NO. 3600 that coalition and others urging Con- General, USA Retired. At the request of Mr. HARKIN, the gress to enact this legislation: Vet- name of the Senator from Massachu- erans of Foreign Wars; Association of THE AMERICAN LEGION, setts (Mr. KENNEDY) was added as a co- the United States Army; Enlisted Asso- Washington, DC, April 5, 2006. Hon. TED STEVENS, sponsor of amendment No. 3600 pro- ciation of the National Guard; Military posed to H.R. 4939, a bill making emer- U.S. Senate, Officers Association of America; Amer- Washington, DC. gency supplemental appropriations for ican Legion; Naval Reserve Associa- DEAR SENATOR STEVENS: On behalf of the 4 the fiscal year ending September 30, tion; Naval Enlisted Reserve Associa- million members of The American Legion 2006, and for other purposes. tion; Gold Star Wives of America; and Family, I would like to take this oppor- f Air Force Sergeants Association. tunity to offer our support for your draft leg- The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ letter islation entitled, The Call Home Act of 2006. STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED Your legislation would direct the Federal BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS of support says that calls home are Communications Commission (FCC) to make ‘‘lifeline’’ for the brave men and By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, every effort possible to reduce telephone women stationed abroad. rates for those deployed and fighting over- Mr. INOUYE, Mr. BURNS, Mr. I urge you to vote for this important seas in the war on terror. The bill also di- DORGAN, Mr. LOTT, Mrs. BOXER, legislation. rects the FCC to develop new technologies, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. NELSON of Flor- I ask unanimous consent letters in encourage foreign governments to reduce ida, Mr. VITTER, Mr. LAUTEN- support of this legislation be printed in international surcharges, and help provide BERG, Mr. WARNER, Mr. the RECORD. flexible billing for troops and their families. LIEBERMAN, Mr. BOND, Ms. There being no objection, the mate- All of these things would help make positive LANDRIEU, Mr. GREGG, Ms. MI- rial was ordered to be printed in the improvements in the lives of our KULSKI, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. JEF- servicemembers who just want to phone RECORD, as follows: home and talk to a loved one. FORDS NHOFE UR , Mr. I , Ms. M - THE MILITARY COALITION, We support efforts to reduce telephone KOWSKI, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. AL- Alexandria, VA, April 10, 2006. rates for our servicemembers stationed over- EXANDER, Mr. SANTORUM, Mrs. Hon. TED STEVENS, seas who depend on an affordable and timely DOLE, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. AL- U.S. Senate, means of communication with their family LARD, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. ENZI, Washington, DC. and loved ones. Over a decade ago, American Mr. GRAHAM, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. DEAR SENATOR STEVENS: The Military Coa- Legion National Commanders discovered in lition (TMC), a consortium of uniformed ROCKEFELLER, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. their visits to troops in the Balkans that our services and veterans associations rep- servicemembers were being charged exorbant PRYOR, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. resenting more than 5.5 million current and telephone rates to call home. The American CRAIG, Mr. TALENT, and Mr. former servicemembers and their families Legion is strongly supportive of military BURR): and survivors, is writing to express our quality of life, and frequent and timely call- S. 2653. A bill to direct the Federal strong support of your bill, ‘‘Call Home Act ing home is a huge morale factor which Communications Commission to make of 2006,’’ that directs the Federal Commu- could only pay dividends to oUr troops going efforts to reduce telephone rates for nications Commission to seek ways to reduce into harm’s way. Armed Forces personnel deployed over- telephone rates for Armed Forces personnel Thank you for introducing this legislation seas; to the Committee on Commerce, deployed overseas. and for your continuous support of those on Science, and Transportation. Everyday, military members deployed or the battlefield today. We look forward to Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the assigned unaccompanied overseas are faced working with you and your staff on the en- Call Home Act of 2006 would require with the burdens of being separated from actment of this legislation. families and loved ones. Your bill recognizes Sincerely, the Federal Communications Commis- the burden these members and families en- CLARENCE HILL, sion to take such actions as may be counter and takes an important step forward Chairman, necessary to reduce telephone rates for to reduce the costs of high phone rates. National Security Commission. Armed Forces personnel deployed over- The Military Coalition thanks you for in- seas, including the waiver of govern- troducing this legislation and recommends ENLISTED ASSOCIATION OF THE ment fees, assessments, or other costs. that the bill be expanded to include all mem- NATIONAL GUARD, In seeking to reduce phone rates, the bers of the uniformed services. We also ap- Alexandria, VA, April 6, 2006. legislation would require the FCC to preciate your leadership on issues affecting Hon. TED STEVENS, Chairman, evaluate and analyze the costs of calls all servicemembers and their families and Hon. DANIEL INOUYE, Ranking Member, to and from official duty stations in- pledge our strong support in seeking enact- U.S. Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science ment of this important legislation. and Transportation, Washington, DC. cluding vessels whether in port or Sincerely, The Enlisted Association of the National under way; evaluate methods of reduc- Signed by 36 representatives of member or- Guard of the United States (EANGUS) is ing rates including deployment of new ganizations of the Military Coalition. pleased to express our strongest support, on technology such as Voice over Internet behalf of the Enlisted men and women of the protocol, VOIP, or other Internet pro- ASSOCIATION OF THE Army and Air National Guard, for the ‘‘Call tocol technology; encourage phone UNITED STATES ARMY, Home Act of 2006’’ which would authorize the companies to adopt flexible billing pro- Arlington, VA, April 6, 2006. FCC to take actions necessary to reduce cedures and policies call to and from Hon. TED STEVENS, telephone bills for all deployed service mem- Armed Forces personnel; and seek U.S. Senate, bers, active duty, Guard and Reserve. Washington, DC. Members of the Guard and Reserve com- agreements with foreign governments DEAR SENATOR STEVENS: On behalf of over prise over 45 percent of all U.S. personnel in to reduce international surcharges on 100,000 members of the Association of the Afghanistan and Iraq. Since September 11, phone calls. United States Army (AUSA), I write to ex- 2001, our nation has deployed over 525,000 The legislation would, however, pro- press our strong support of your bill. ‘‘Call Guard and Reserve members for operational hibit the FCC from regulating rates in Home Act of 2006,’’ that directs the Federal missions for the Global War on Terrorism, VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:29 Apr 27, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A26AP6.051 S26APPT1 hmoore on PROD1PC68 with HMSENATE S3592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 26, 2006 all over the world. Unfortunately, many of Afghanistan and Iraq. Since September 11, and overall readiness. I look forward to these members, predominately in the junior 2001, our nation has deployed over 525,000 working together in support of a strong and enlisted ranks, are not be able to afford ex- Guard and Reserve members for operational viable Reserve and Guard Force. Thank you pensive calls from overseas to families or to missions for the Global War on Terrorism, for all your hard work on their behalf with address personal issues that increase stress all over the world. Additionally, during any the ‘‘Call Home Act of 2006.’’ on the member. All servicemembers need month, approximately 25 percent of the Navy DAVE DAVIDSON, contact with their home areas and families Reserve force is doing some type of oper- CAPT, USN (Ret.), for a multitude of reasons; however most ational support to the fleet for operational Executive Director. Guard and Reserve member’s home towns are mission requirements.