S*0507 Concurrent Resolution, By Knotts, Alexander, Anderson, Bryant, Campsen, 
Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, 
Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, 
Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Patterson, Peeler, 
Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Ritchie, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, Short, 
Thomas, Vaughn, Verdin and Williams
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
 THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO FACILITATE THE CHANGE IN THE
 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RULE OR POLICY NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR PAID
 TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 218TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM AND FOR OTHER SOUTH CAROLINA
 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND BACK TO THEIR TRAINING SITES
 BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURES TO A COMBAT ZONE.

   02/28/07  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-18
   03/01/07  House  Introduced HJ-9
   03/01/07  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-10
   03/01/07  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-51
   03/05/07         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/06/07  House  Adopted, returned to Senate with concurrence HJ-34

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 1, 2007

S. 507

Introduced by Senators Knotts, Alexander, Anderson, Bryant, Campsen, Cleary, Courson, Cromer, Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Gregory, Grooms, Hawkins, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Patterson, Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Ritchie, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, Short, Thomas, Vaughn, Verdin and Williams

S. Printed 3/1/07--H.    [SEC 3/5/07 9:46 AM]

Read the first time March 1, 2007.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 507) memorializing the Congress of the United States and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to facilitate the change in the Department of Defense rule or policy, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

ROBERT W. LEACH, SR. for Committee.

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO FACILITATE THE CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RULE OR POLICY NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR PAID TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 218TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM AND FOR OTHER SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND BACK TO THEIR TRAINING SITES BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURES TO A COMBAT ZONE.

Whereas, the State of South Carolina has generously and honorably staffed the United States efforts in the Middle East with its finest citizen soldiers and has sorrowfully suffered the wretched loss of its native sons and daughters to that effort; and

Whereas, even now, the largest deployment in the history of South Carolina's National Guard is training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi in preparation for a year-long combat stint in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, these 1,600 men and women of the 218th Brigade Combat Team will complete their training on April 10, 2007, and must report back to Camp Shelby for a departure ceremony on April 21 before shipping out to the newly invigorated and escalating war zone in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, the National Guard is not providing for transportation costs to cover the expenses of these soldiers for their last ten days with their families on South Carolina soil before being placed in harm's way; and

Whereas, these volunteer citizen soldiers, and others like them, deserve the utmost honor and consideration for making the difficult personal choices that tear them away from their loved ones and their beloved State in defense of our collective freedom. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the General Assembly of South Carolina memorializes the Congress of the United States and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to facilitate the change in the Department of Defense rule or policy necessary to provide for paid transportation for the 218th Brigade Combat Team and for other South Carolina National Guardsmen home to South Carolina and back to their training sites before their departures to a combat zone.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Congress and the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.