TROOPS, DEFENSE, AND VETERANS HIGHLIGHTS  THE XXXX RECORD TROOPS XXXX Voted Against Bipartisan Troop Deployment Limits. In September 2007, XXXX voted against Sen. Jim Webb’s bipartisan proposal to specify minimum periods between deployments of U.S. troops in Iraq. Specifically, the Webb amendment would have extended home stays for troops for periods at least as long as their last combat tours before they can be redeployed. XXXXX backed the measure when it came up for a vote in July 2007. [Vote 341, 9/19/07; Washington Post, 9/19/07] XXXX Opposed Establishing Minimum Home Stays Between Deployments. XXXX voted against an amendment that would have required that U.S. troops get at least as much time at home as they spent on their last deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. The plan also stipulated that for members of the National Guard and Reserve, the deployment to period at home minimum ratio would be 1-to-3. [Vote 241, 7/11/07; Richmond Times Dispatch, 7/10/07]  While Deployments Are Being Extended, Time Home Is Decreasing. Earlier this year, active duty Army soldiers in Iraq learned that their tours will be extended from 12 to 15 months, a decision that affects more than 100,000 soldiers and will result in the longest Army combat tours since World War II. The announcement also means that active-duty soldiers will spend more time at war than at home. [Washington Post, 4/12/07]  Long Deployments Increase Risk of Mental Problems Among Troops. A mental health survey released in May found that extended tours and multiple deployments, could have a detrimental affect on troops. Among other things, the report recommended that soldiers spend 18 to 36 months at home between deployments abroad. In addition, “Soldiers who were deployed for more than six months were one and a half times more likely to exhibit depression or anxiety than those with shorter tours of duty.” [New York Times, 5/6/07]  Extended Deployments Are Endangering Ability to Respond to Disasters At Home. After a massive tornado hit Kansas in May, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius expressed concern that rescue and recovery efforts were being strained because much of the needed equipment has been sent to Iraq. “When the troops get deployed, the equipment goes with them,” she said. “We are missing Humvees, we’re missing all kinds of equipment that could help us respond in this kind of emergency.” [CNN, 5/8/07] XXXX Voted Against Capping Troops in Colombia. In June 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment that would cap the number of military troops and civilian contractors in Colombia at 500 each. [Vote 140, 6/23/04] XXXX Voted Against Authorizing $409 Million for the Army to Increase Its Size by 10,000 Troops. On October 15, 2003, XXXX voted against using $409 million for the Army to increase its size by 10,000 troops. Additional personnel would be required to be trained, incorporated into an appropriate force structure and used for constabulary duty such as military police and light infantry. It also would require that $409 million be made available from the Iraqi Freedom Fund to fund the additional personnel. [Vote 382, 10/15/03; AP, 10/15/03] 303