AS ADOPTED BY SENATE, MARCH 3, 2021
senate Resolution No.21
Senators Barrett, Theis, Johnson, Victory, Wojno, Outman, Hollier, Alexander, Bullock, Hertel, McCann, Bumstead, Ananich, Moss, Brinks, Irwin, Horn, LaSata, McBroom, Santana, Bizon, Zorn, MacDonald, Lauwers, Bayer, Daley, Stamas, Geiss, Chang, Polehanki, Nesbitt, Schmidt and VanderWall offered the following resolution:
Whereas, Members of the Michigan National Guard make tremendous personal sacrifice on behalf of our state and our nation to provide protection and security whether their duty keeps them in Michigan or takes them out-of-state or out-of-country. Guard members leave their families and regular employment to serve our country; and
Whereas, Michigan National Guard members are currently deployed at the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C., providing security and supporting civilian law enforcement protecting our democracy and members of Congress; and
Whereas, The food provided to our Guard members has been unsafe and insufficient. Members are reporting that meat served with lunch and dinner is almost always undercooked. Further, food sits in packaging for hours before reaching the troops. Many guard members are using their own money to purchase meals, a situation that is inappropriate when in the service of their country; and
Whereas, The current situation is completely unacceptable. Michigan's National Guard members deserve to receive the basic human need of safe and sufficient food while protecting our nation's Capitol; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we call on the National Guard Bureau to immediately end the food contract for the 1,000 Michigan National Guard service members currently deployed to Washington, D.C., and provide a per diem food allowance backdated to the start of mobilization; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and to the Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.