Washington, Oct 13 -
Mike Turner and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) have requested that Full Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) hold a markup of Turner’s military child custody legislation, H.R. 4469, before the end of the calendar year. H.R. 4469 was approved by the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on July 28th; however the full committee has yet to take action to advance the bill.In their letter to Chairman Filner, Reps. Turner and Herseth Sandlin note that this week, The Oprah Winfrey Show will profile the issue of service members losing custody of their children due to their military service. During the taping of the program, Oprah spoke with Eva Crouch-Slusher, a Captain in the Kentucky National Guard, who Rep. Turner had previously invited to Washington, DC to meet with Members of Congress to advocate for the protection of servicemembers custody rights. Captain Slusher was mobilized for 18 months with the Kentucky National Guard starting in 2003. Her service was later used as the basis to strip her of custody of her daughter Sara. After an emotionally and financially costly two-year legal battle, Eva regained custody of her daughter.
Rep. Turner’s child custody language, which was also included in the House version of the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act, prohibits courts from permanently altering custody orders during a parent’s deployment, and requires pre-deployment custody to be reinstated unless it is not in the best interest of the child. Additionally, the legislation prohibits state court judges from using deployment or possibility of deployment of service members to deny them custody. Since state laws regarding military child custody vary widely, if they offer any protection at all, Rep. Turner has argued for a national baseline standard.
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Turner successful included his child custody language in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) four times. Additionally, Rep. Turner’s legislation was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives as a stand-alone bill in 2008.
Throughout the years, Congressman Turner has worked on bipartisan basis to help service members. This year, Congressman Turner has cooperated with Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) to win support for H.R. 4469. On April 29th, Rep. Turner and Rep. Herseth Sandlin met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to advocate for federal safeguards of military parents’ rights in custody cases. More information on Rep. Turner and Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s meeting with Secretary Gates can be found here.
Also check out the Oprah website for an important expose on other veterans issues:
http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/American-War-Heroes-Why-Are-These-Women-Now-Homeless_1
One of the postings on the Oprah.com page hit very close to home, check it out:
ReplyDeletesoldierwmn44 : As a soldier in general it seems like the community still treat you like your worthless. Being away from home for a year and more it's really no fun. My s...pouse never sent me care packages since my first deployment to kuwait twice. Iraq the third time. My second husband only married for the medical assistance the virginia court gave my son to him since 07. I am a female paying child support to a man who never took care of me. He's a College Professor 54 yrs old. and my son doesn't have his own room they live with my husband parents my son is eleven and he sleeps with his father..My son can't even talk to me on the phone because they listen in our conversation. I can't even get a loan to file for custody. The system is against the military soldiers. I pay him child support to take care of my son and my son complains of not getting clothes his size the kids make fun of him and his hair..can someone please help with a lawyer in sc. please
I am very much speechless about not only Marcel's blog but the above posting. I am an Army wife, soon to be ex, since my husband decided to join the Jesse James and Tiger Woods club. We have a 3 year old son together, and even though he made a reckless decision, I cannot use our son as a weapon to get back at him, that is inmoral to refuse a parent the right to see and interact with their child, specially when they are serving their country and risking their lives for our freedom. In my case, my soon to be ex is requesting physical custody of our son, which I have been with our son 24/7 since the day he was born.
ReplyDeleteI do wish you good luck, praying and hoping for the best for you Marcel. I'm not sure what the cause of the divorce was, but that is besides the point. The relationship between you and your daughter should never be cut off, because of resentments. Shame on your ex and shame on that judge for not acknowledging that the documents representing you. Life has a way of getting back at people. Just hold on strong and steadfast and believe that you will come out of this victorious with the help of God and the support of those that love you!