Veterans and Military
Remember and Honor the Sacrifices Our Veterans Made for Freedom Veteran’s Day, for many Americans, goes uncelebrated or is often seen as “another bank holiday.” It shouldn’t be. Most of us know someone who served our nation in the armed services at some point in their lives. Many of our citizens built careers around trades learned in the military, which provided income and job security for many years after their service was completed. Veterans are valuable members of the society we live in today, and we often fail to recognize what they have given and what they continue to give each day of their lives. Service members risk their own safety every day in the name of freedom. They face separation from their families and their homes, they work long hours and endure dangerous missions, and they ask little in return. As a society, we must realize that the best way to thank our veterans is to acknowledge the challenges each man and woman face when they return home from duty, and provide the support for them that they deserve. The stress of being away from home for long periods of time is unimaginable to most Americans. That stress should not be compounded by worries about what will happen when a soldier returns home: bills getting paid, employment when a tour of duty ends, and the possibility of a lost home due to the current foreclosure crisis. As our servicemen and servicewomen fight to protect our homeland, the least we as legislators can do is help protect their homes. The State Senate worked hard to make sure a home could not be foreclosed on if the homeowner is on active duty or has recently completed active duty as a member of the armed services, reserves, or National Guard. I was proud to support this legislation, which was signed into law in May. The Legislature unanimously passed a bill this year that allows a military service member to terminate a vehicle lease agreement without penalty if the vehicle isn’t being used due to deployment. We were also able to pass legislation that provides stronger job protections for veterans when they come home. Our veterans have risked their lives in service to our country, and while we can never fully express our gratitude, we can do our best by serving them when they return to us. We can do a better job in
November 13, 2008 by Senator Glenn S Anderson
Posted in Veterans and Military | No Comments >>
Cyber Command Unit Would Bring New Air Force Technology to Battle Creek
July 10, 2008 by Senator Mark Schauer
Our country’s infrastructure has become highly advanced over the last few decades. Government, private sector, and personal activities continue to move in the direction of networked operations, keeping us competitive and adding convenience to our daily lives. With important data and communication information available in cyberspace, someone needs to be there to protect against threats and abuse. That’s where the Air Force Cyber Command steps in.
Cyber Command units take proactive measures to detect and prevent intrusions before they can do significant damage to our infrastructure. Criminals target our government and private sector information networks in attempts to gain a competitive advantage in the commercial sector and disrupt national security efforts. The Air Force Cyber Command is working to prevent attacks on sensitive electronic information and make it harder for outsiders to penetrate our networks.
Right now the Air Force is evaluating locations throughout the U.S. for a Cyber Command unit, and last week, I sent letters to Dr. Robert M. Gates, United States Secretary of Defense and Mr. William C. Anderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Logistics in support of a Cyber Command unit at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base (BCANGB).
As a State Senator representing Battle Creek, I worked with former Congressman Joe Schwarz to keep the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base off the base closure list and fought for additional missions to keep the base active. I also worked with leaders from Duncan Aviation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to help Michigan beat out competition from other states and create hundreds of new jobs.
I recognize that BCANGB is well suited to meet the demanding security and technology needs of such a unit, and the city is a great place for a new technology-focused endeavor. Battle Creek has put significant resources into growing its advanced technology sectors, including homeland security and aerospace, and has taken a proactive role in ensuring that every part of the city has access to a state-of-the-art high-speed telecommunications infrastructure.
The addition of a Cyber Command unit to BCANGB would bring more jobs to Michigan, which means more families working, living, going to school, and contributing to the local economy. I am pleased and proud that my city is being considered for this kind of operation, and I would welcome the opportunity for Michigan to play a key role in the defense of our nation’s critical electronic information.
Posted in Veterans and Military | No Comments >>
Video of Senate Memorial Day Service
May 23, 2008 by Sara
|
|
Yesterday the Michigan Senate held its 14th Annual Memorial Day service during the day’s session. The keynote speech was delivered by Michigan National Guard Sergeant Michelle Rudzitis, who served in the Iraq war and received a purple heart after losing her leg in an attack that killed two others.
Senators also paid tribute to 24 Michigan service members who lost their lives last year.
The full ceremony can be viewed in the video player above.
Posted in Veterans and Military | No Comments >>
