SENATOR COLLINS ARRANGES FOR FAMILIES OF 94TH MILITARY POLICE UNIT TO MEET WITH PENTAGON OFFICIALS, NEW ENGLAND DELEGATION REPS.

WASHINGTON, D.C. —A group of about 30 family members of soldiers serving in the 94 Military Police Unit in Iraq were in Washington, DC yesterday to meet with Pentagon officials at a meeting that was arranged by Senator Susan Collins. The family members, who came from Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, also met with Senators Collins and Snowe as well as representatives from other New England Congressional offices. Senator Collins arranged the meetings to provide family members with the opportunity to express their concerns to Members of Congress and Pentagon officials who oversee military reserve units.

At issue is the length of time that Members of the 94th Military Police Unit, which is a reserve unit, has served in Iraq. This particular unit has been in Iraq for 14 months and has been mobilized for 2 ½ of the past four years.

Senator Collins, who is a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, arranged for the family members to meet today with Chief of the Army Reserve Lieutenant General James Helmly, Brigadier General Bill Wofford who oversees Operations, Readiness and Mobilization, and Lieutenant General Norton Schwartz who oversees Operations for the Joint Chiefs. The meeting lasted almost two hours.

Following the meeting at the Pentagon, family members came to the Capitol for a meeting hosted by Senator Susan Collins.

During the meeting Senator Collins said, "It is very helpful for lawmakers to hear first-hand the concerns of individuals whose loved ones are serving in Iraq. It is concerning that the policy is generally for reservists to serve abroad for 12 months, whereas the 94th Military Police Unit has been deployed for 14 months."

"I am very proud of these soldiers and know they have gone on and beyond the call of duty in serving our nation proudly and professionally," added Senator Collins.

Senator Collins said she will continue working with these family members and said that the focus should now be on pressing the Pentagon to answer the question of when the 94th Military Police Unit will be returning home.

"There is nothing more important for a soldier to know than when they will be able to return home to their loved ones, family and friends," she added.

The 94th Military Police Company includes around 20 army reserve soldiers from Maine. The unit was scheduled to return to the U.S. in April, after a year in Iraq, but their return was delayed when the Defense Department extended the company's deployment for at least another 90 days. Senator Collins has expressed her concern that the 94th Company is being unfairly overused to a number of high-ranking Pentagon officials, including Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers.

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