SENATE PASSES COLLINS BACKED AMENDMENT TO ASSIST R&R TRAVEL COSTS FOR SOLDIERS SERVING IN IRAQ

WASHINGTON, DC -- The US Senate has passed legislation, of which Senator Susan Collins is an original cosponsor, that will help pay travel expenses for soldiers serving abroad who are granted time to visit their families. The proposal was approved as part of the President's $87 billion supplemental spending bill, which is currently under consideration in the US Senate.

The amendment, which was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators, expands the US Central Command's R& R Leave Program. Currently, when soldiers are granted leave, they are flown at government expense to designated military locations that include Frankfurt, Germany and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. However, service members who desire to travel beyond the designated location must pay for additional travel themselves. This legislation provides the Department of Defense with dollars to help defray these additional travel expenses.

"The very least we can do for our soldiers serving in Iraq is to help meet their expenses associated with travel home. Many of these men and women are already burdened by financial hardship and need assistance with travel so they may spend valuable time with their families. And travel to Maine can be very expensive," said Senator Collins. "Our Armed Forces are serving courageously in the Iraqi theater and deserve the opportunity to travel home when they are granted leave," added Senator Collins.