The military is keeping servicemembers past their enlistment contracts. This policy is called "stop-loss" and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
upheld the policy.
We have the power to change this policy. We need members of Congress to pass legislation that imposes reasonable limits on "stop-loss". A starting point for legislation is included below the fold.
I request your assistance lobbying Congress to get "stop-loss" legislation introduced and passed.
Key Senators and House members:
Senate
Senate Committee on Armed Services, Personnel Sub
Ted Kennedy-Mass (ranking)
Joe Lieberman-Connecticut
Daniel Akaka-Hawaii
leadership
Charles Schumer-New York (chair DSCC)
Carl Levin-Michigan (ranking member Committee on Armed Services)
Dick Durbin-Illinois (whip)
Harry Reid-Nevada (Democratic leader)
House
House Armed Services Committee, Personnel Sub
Vic Snyder-Arkansas (ranking)
Marty Meehan-Mass
Loretta Sanchez-California
Robert E. Andrews-New Jersey
Susan Davis-California
Mark Udall-Colorado
Cynthia McKinney-Georgia
leadership
Rahm Emanuel-Illinois (chair DCCC)
Ike Skelton-Missouri (ranking member House Armed Services Committee)
Steny Hoyer-Maryland (whip)
Nancy Pelosi-California (Democratic leader)
Proposed legislation:
Congress encourages the President to use positive incentives to get servicemembers to re-enlist.
The Secretary of Defense shall report to Congress each month on the servicemembers being extended involuntarily beyond their enlistment contracts. This report shall include in which Congressional district the servicemembers' home of record is.
Enlistment contracts shall include the limits on the President's power to extend service beyond the "end of active obligated service".
During peacetime the President can extend service by 30 days.
If war has been declared by Congress, the President can extend service by 90 days.
If war has been declared Congress may extend service by 180 days.
The Secretary of Defense shall only have the power to extend individual servicemembers if the President has delegated this power in writing for the calendar year.
A servicemember has a right to be notified 90 days in advance that his or her service has been extended. The servicemember has a right to know the date to which the contract is extended. Failure to notify the servicemember in writing 90 days in advance shall void any contract extension.
If the servicemember is going to be extended more than 90 days, he or she must be notified 180 days in advance.
Servicemembers extended 30 days or less shall be paid 150% of their pay, but not allowances for the period they are extended.
Servicemembers extended 31-90 days shall be paid 175% of their pay, but not allowances for the period they are extended.
Servicemembers extended over 90 days shall be paid 200% of their pay, but not allowances for the period they are extended.
Families of servicemembers killed while serving an involuntary contract extension shall receive 250% the monetary benefits they would otherwise be entitle to.