Guardsmen stranded at Christmas inspire bill

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news/2008/02/ap_strandedguardsmen_080213

By Anna Jo Bratton - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 19, 2008 16:01:04 EST

OMAHA, Neb. — Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., has introduced a bill he says will ensure soldiers in the National Guard aren’t stranded away from home for the holidays.

Last Christmas, more than 40 members of the Nebraska Guard’s 110th Medical Battalion training at Fort Lewis, Wash., found out the training would be suspended for two weeks while the base reduced its activities for the holidays. Regulations don’t let the Guard pay travel costs for members taking leave.

Nelson contacted Nebraska business leaders, who raised $40,000 to bring the troops home.

Nelson’s bill would let the Department of Defense pay for travel if a reserve member who is more than 300 miles from home is placed on leave because of training suspensions or staffing issues.

On the Web: Sen. Ben Nelson

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