Wednesday, September 6, 2006

WASHINGTON (Thursday, Sept. 7) -- U.S. Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, Thursday released a letter they have sent to the leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in which they ask for removal of a provision in the House and Senate versions of the Defense Authorization Bill – now in conference – that would make it easier for the President to invoke the Insurrection Act and, in turn, to declare martial law. The rider – which is similar in both the House and Senate bills -- allows the activation of the military, including the National Guard, in domestic emergencies without the consent of state governors.

The National Association of Governors in August sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and to the leadership of both the House and Senate, opposing these provisions in the bill. Earlier this year, Leahy and Bond introduced legislation to strengthen the involvement of the states in the defense planning process through the National Guard. A version of their legislation was included in the Senate-passed version of same Defense Authorization Bill that is currently under negotiation between the House and Senate.

"As a former Governor who has called upon the National Guard in crisis, I share our governors' concern and opposition to the House and Senate language. This proposal would giver our nation's governors less control over their Guard units and provide the President with unnecessary and unprecedented power to invoke martial law," said Bond.

“The language in the House and Senate bills threatens to undermine the authority of democratically elected governors and needlessly makes it easier for a President to declare martial law,” said Leahy. “Lessening the governors’ control over their National Guard units will ultimately weaken the protection the Guard provides to our communities. Senator Bond and I have introduced legislation this year to strengthen and empower the National Guard. We hope the conferees considering the Defense Authorization Bill will consider the opposition of the Senate’s over 80-member National Guard Caucus, as well as that of the governors, and that they will consider the National Guard Empowerment Act as an effective alternative that supports, instead of undermines, the crucial missions of the National Guard.”