Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and US Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington, NY) the only New York Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Defense and the Military, held a joint military forum with families greatly impacted by the war.

"Military families serve along with their servicemembers and, therefore, we must do everything we can to ensure that they have the support and resources they need and deserve. Too many of our military families are facing tremendous challenges, especially financial," Clinton said. "Congressman Israel and I are committed to developing legislation to address the problem of creditors going after the assets of servicemembers who have been deployed. We need to ensure that creditors are informed of deployments and cannot add additional pressure on a family that is already facing the prospect of a significant time separated from a loved one."

"On the Armed Services Committee, we have an obligation to provide force protection," Israel said. "That means ensuring our military personnel have Kevlar in their vests, up-armored humvees and night vision goggles to keep them safe. But just as important as force protection for our soldiers abroad is, so is family protection for their loved ones at home. That means healthcare, financial security and improving their quality of life. We're getting better at force protection; we have a long way to go on family protection.

Those testifying at the forum were Gina Griffin, wife of guardsman serving in Iraq; Fred Scanga, executive director of the LI State Veterans Home; Jesse Kearns, 25-year-old disabled Navy Veteran; Jean Kelley, executive director of the Interfaith Nutritional Network INN (food kitchen); Carolyn Ceglia, wife of guardsman serving in Iraq; Phyllis Ramos, wife of guardsman serving in Iraq; and Cathy Heighter, mother of the late Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter.