October 30, 2003

REP. RYAN JOINS IN CONGRESSIONAL PETITION EFFORT
CONCERNING REPORTS OF MILITARY ARMOR SHORTAGE

State Representatives Kevin Ryan has signed on to an effort announced by a legislative colleague calling for the drafting of a legislative petition to urge Congress to make the latest protective vests and combat armor available to troops in Iraq.

Rep. Ryan explained that a fellow legislator, State Representative Ted Graziani (D-Ellington), himself a Viet Nam veteran, learned from media reports that as much as a third of our troops may be currently under protected on the battlefield. He has contacted the American Legion Headquarters in Connecticut along with the Connecticut National Guard and the Veterans of Foreign Wars for their help in drafting a legislative petition to urge congress to ensure that our troops have the latest best protective gear that is currently available.

"I thank Rep. Graziani for bringing this matter to our attention and I am glad to sign onto his petition effort. Our men and women in uniform must have the best equipment available to do their jobs safely and effectively," Rep. Ryan said. "We have men and women from our region and from throughout Connecticut now serving in Iraq and this is the least that they can expect from their government."

Rep Ryan added, "I hope media reports of these shortages are untrue, but considering the conflicting stories coming out of Washington these reports may very well have merit."