House bill seeks guaranteed dwell time for troops

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House bill seeks guaranteed dwell time for troops
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, February 14, 2009


WASHINGTON — Active-duty troops would be guaranteed at least one month home for every month deployed under a bill reintroduced in the House on Thursday.

Reservists would get at least three months home for every month on active duty, according to bill sponsor Rep. Elaine Tauscher, D-Calif. The goal, she said, is to make sure all troops get time between extended deployments to retrain, relax and reconnect with their families.

Similar legislation passed the House last year but fell short in the Senate. Republican opponents in both chambers argued that measure overstepped Congressional responsibilities by placing restrictions on when and for how long the president can deploy troops.

But Tauscher said she believes Congress does have a right to set basic standards of living for servicemembers, and too-frequent deployments hurt morale and operational readiness.

"The rapid pace of multiple deployments has put strain on our troops and on the military," she said.

"More soldiers died by suicide in January than on the battlefield. Cases of divorce (among military couples) are rising."

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