Every week, 2,000 - 3,000 Second District residents write to me about the issues pending before Congress, and I work hard to respond to each person as promptly and thoughtfully as possible.  On this "Letter of the Week" blog, I highlight constituent letters that are of general interest.  If you'd like to share your own views, please feel free to e-mail me at any time!

Dear Nancy,

On March 14, a bipartisan team of National Guard supporters in Congress -
Senator's Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Kit Bond (R-MO), co-chairs of the
Senate National Guard Caucus, and Representative's Gene Taylor (D-MS) and
Tom Davis (R-VA) introduced the National Guard Empowerment and
State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008.

Empowerment legislation enacted in the FY 2008 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA); elevated the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
(CNGB) to 4-stars, designated the National Guard Bureau as a joint
activity, required the Defense Secretary to develop a Charter for the
National Guard Bureau, identified the CNGB as a principal advisor to the
Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs for matters
pertaining to non-federalized Guard forces, and more.

Empowerment II, as some are calling it, will build on those historic
improvements by; increasing the quality of advice at the highest levels by
crating a seat on the Joint Chiefs for the CNGB, assuring our nation's
governors maintain "tactical control" over federal forces during
emergencies, improve the Department of Defense's domestic capabilities by
providing the National Guard budgetary authority to research, validate,
and procure essential equipment for homeland defense, ensure that United
States Northern Command and United States Pacific Command remain in
support of a state/National Guard—led response, and more.

The National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act
of 2008 (S. 2760 or H.R. 5603) is the next logical step to ensure the
National Guard fully develops its capabilities as an operational force. I
strongly urge you to support this legislation and sign on as a co-sponsor
to ensure the National Guard is at the table, empowered and better
prepared for homeland defense response.

Michael from Pittsburg, KS

Dear Michael

Thank you for sharing your ideas for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.

I’m proud to announce that this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) advances the efforts of last year’s NDAA to restore America’s military readiness, and it includes over $20 million in defense authorizations for the state of Kansas. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a 384 to 23 vote on May 22, 2008.

In the face of continuous redeployment of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, our military and their families need additional support. The funds authorized will strengthen the Kansas economy and improve the security of every American. The bill takes major steps to strengthen America’s military readiness, which has been one of my top concerns since entering office in 2007. It authorizes $8.6 billion for the Army and $1.8 billion for the Marine Corps to reset equipment -- fixing broken equipment and replacing that which is not fixable. Moreover, the National Guard and the Army Reserve will receive $800 million for procurement of high-priority equipment.

The NDAA also includes a hard-earned pay raise for American soldiers. All uniformed personnel will receive a 3.9% pay raise, 0.5% higher than what was proposed by President Bush in his 2009 budget. In addition, the bill prevents any increases in health care premiums and co-pays for TRICARE and the TRICARE retail pharmacy program.

The NDAA also authorizes $65 million to school boards that provide support to military children, $15 million of which is directed to school districts impacted by force structure changes. Manhattan, Junction City and Leavenworth all stand to benefit from this provision.

The bill includes numerous authorizations to support Kansas military installations, including:

o$2 million for a dynamometer for the Kansas National Guard

o$6 million for the Urban Operations Laboratory development at Kansas State University

o$3.4 million for the Defense Command Integration Center (Eisenhower Center) for the Kansas National Guard

o$2 million for Leadership for Leaders at Kansas State University and Fort Leavenworth

o$3 million for a new fire station at Fort Riley

o$4.389 million for the second phase of the new chapel at Fort Leavenworth

The NDAA also includes several provisions of interest to Kansans – suggestions that many of you wrote to me about. While the bill does not overturn the decision to award the new tanker for the Air Force to a foreign company, it includes provisions that requires the Defense Department to review the impact of illegal subsidies on the acquisition of the new tanker, prohibit any future contracts with the Defense Department if a company receives direct illegal subsidies and to include the effect on the domestic industrial base when making procurement decisions. I was also able to include a requirement that the Department of Defense review how munitions that used to be made at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons were sent overseas and the Department’s plan for keeping those contracts in the United States.

With the high operational tempo of our National Guard and Reserves, the bill increases full-time manning for the Army National Guard to 30,450 and the Army Reserve to 16,320. The bill also builds upon last year’s National Guard empowerment by requiring the Department to clearly define the relationship that NORTHCOM and PACOM have with the National Guard when the Guard responds to natural disasters. State Adjutant Generals will also receive credit for joint service while they serve as Adjutant Generals.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me regarding our nation’s defense. As your representative, I both need and value your perspective. I hope you will continue to keep in touch with me and let me know whenever I may be of future assistance.

Sincerely,

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress