Federal

A resolution honoring the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman program on Ombudsman Appreciation Day.

Source: Congress.gov · 643 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This resolution honors the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman program on Ombudsman Appreciation Day. The Senate celebrates these volunteers and recognizes their 37 years of service supporting Coast Guard families.

Who It Affects

Coast Guard ombudsmen volunteers, Coast Guard service members and their families, the United States Senate.

Key Provisions

The bill cannot be presented with section citations because this is a resolution that honors volunteers rather than a bill that establishes requirements or actions. Resolutions do not contain "sections" that impose duties or create provisions in the traditional legislative sense.

What Changes

Not specified in bill text. This resolution celebrates and honors volunteers but does not change any laws, create new programs or modify existing government operations.

Important Definitions

The bill describes ombudsmen as volunteers who provide information and referral resources and act as advocates for Coast Guard families, but does not formally define the term.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text. The resolution references March 26, 2023 as Ombudsman Appreciation Day but does not state when the resolution itself takes effect.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 137 Honoring the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman program on Ombudsman Appreciation Day. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 29, 2023 Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. CRUZ, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. SULLIVAN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the volunteers of the Coast Guard Ombudsman program on Ombudsman Appreciation Day. Whereas the Coast Guard Ombudsman program was formally established by Admiral James S. Gracey, the 17th Com- mandant of the Coast Guard, to provide a link between the Coast Guard command and Coast Guard families through the engagement of spouses of members of the Coast Guard; Whereas the leadership of Wanda Allen-Yearout for over 36 years helped establish and shape the Coast Guard Om- budsman program into the robust volunteer force it is today; Whereas Ombudsman Appreciation Day is celebrated on March 26, 2023, to honor Coast Guard ombudsmen for VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR137.ATS SR137 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 137 ATS the dedicated service they provide to the mission-ready workforce of the Coast Guard; Whereas Coast Guard ombudsmen serve as volunteers— (1) providing information and referral resources; and (2) acting as advocates for the families of members of the Coast Guard; Whereas the selfless Coast Guard ombudsmen volunteers are essential to the success of the Coast Guard, supporting families to enable service members and service commands to focus on mission requirements; Whereas, in 2022, Coast Guard service members were helping the public and carrying out missions, and ombudsmen across the Coast Guard were helping by making over 350,000 contacts with, and volunteering more than 13,000 hours to assist, Coast Guard families; Whereas, recognizing that military service involves sacrifices and difficulties with separation from family, frequent moves, new schools, and long distances from loved ones, Coast Guard ombudsmen respond to ensure military fam- ilies are not alone by providing vital information to facili- tate the transitions of those families to new assignments and to overcome family challenges; Whereas Coast Guard ombudsmen were vital to supporting family members after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, the most extensive organizational trans- formation of the Coast Guard since World War II; Whereas, as the Coast Guard responded to and rescued dis- placed people during Hurricane Katrina, Coast Guard ombudsmen, often consisting of spouses of Coast Guard rescuers and hurricane evacuees— (1) tracked and accounted for Coast Guard families; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR137.ATS SR137 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 137 ATS (2) rendered assistance; and (3) communicated vital evacuation information; Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic, Coast Guard om- budsmen recognized challenges and ensured the oper- ational readiness of the Coast Guard was maintained by providing direct support to Coast Guard families; and Whereas, by volunteering on the home front, being available for Coast Guard families, and helping Coast Guard fami- lies obtain the resources and information necessary for success, Coast Guard ombudsmen help ensure that mem- bers of the Coast Guard and their families remain ‘‘Al- ways Ready’’ to meet the needs of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) celebrates Ombudsman Appreciation Day 2 and Coast Guard ombudsmen on March 26, 2023; 3 (2) is grateful to the women and men who vol- 4 unteer their time as Coast Guard ombudsmen to as- 5 sist the families of members of the Coast Guard; 6 and 7 (3) congratulates the volunteers of the Coast 8 Guard Ombudsman program on 37 years of service. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR137.ATS SR137 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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