Leahy, Bond, Davis And Taylor
Launch Follow-On National Guard Empowerment Effort
New Bill Would
Sharpen The Pentagon’s Focus
On Helping The
Guard Respond To Domestic Emergencies
WASHINGTON (Friday, March 14) -- A bipartisan and bicameral team of
Congressional leaders on National Guard issues Thursday launched a
new phase of their efforts to empower the Guard for its modern-day
missions. By clearing away bureaucratic cobwebs in the Defense
Department’s organizational structure, they hope to improve decision
making on homeland defense issues that involve the Guard.
U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.)
and U.S. Reps. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) yesterday
introduced identical legislation (S. 2760 and H.R. 5603) that would
obligate the Department of Defense to pay greater attention to the
mission of homeland defense and to further empower the National
Guard to carry out its missions in support of civil authorities at
home. Leahy, Bond, Davis and Taylor secured several improvements in
the Guard’s organization structure in the recently enacted Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, and their new effort picks
up where their earlier Guard Empowerment Bill left off.
In addition to serving as the primary reserve to the active military
when assigned abroad, the National Guard is the nation’s first
military responder for domestic emergencies, such as natural
disasters. Leahy, Bond, Davis and Taylor point out that no
organization or group in the Department of Defense has more
experience, expertise, and capability than the Guard does when it
comes to domestic response and support to civilian authorities.
Their new bill would enhance the Guard’s ability to deal with these
situations, ensure that states remain in control of the Guard and
other military forces that might be operating domestically during
these situations, and thereby improve the Department of Defense’s
domestic capabilities.
Their new bill would increase the quality of advice at the highest
levels on homeland defense matters by placing the Chief of the
National Guard -- now a four-star general officer position -- on the
Joint Chiefs of Staff. The legislation would also make sure that
the nation’s governors maintain so-called tactical control over
federal military forces during emergencies, and it would give the
National Guard Bureau budgetary authority to research, validate and
procure essential equipment for the Guard. The legislation also
would ensure that United States Northern Command, along with United
States Pacific Command, remain in support of a state/national
Guard-led response.
“Before and after 9/11 and Katrina, the National Guard has
skillfully performed its domestic security roles, which continue to
grow in importance,” said Leahy, co-chair with Bond of the 91-member
U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus. “The Pentagon’s decision making
structure has not kept pace with the homeland security challenges we
face. The National Guard has the know-how, the experience and the
skill sets to operate at home, wherever we need them. The Guard
needs to know that the active military – which also has much to
contribute in this realm -- will play a truly supportive role. The
Guard also needs new authorities, like clearly stated budgetary
powers, so that the Pentagon will make sure that critically needed
equipment for domestic emergencies is available.”
“These reforms, along with previous enacted reforms last year, will
help put the National Guard on an equal footing with decision makers
inside the Pentagon,” said Bond. “Now more than ever the need for
Congress to empower the Guard to defend the nation and secure the
homeland from natural disasters or a terrorist attack is clear.”
“We need to increase the Guard’s role in decision-making, establish
a budget for Guard equipment, set up an integrated planning process
for domestic response and strengthen the powers of governors to
control the Guard within their states,” said Davis. “This
legislation represents the correct Constitutional balance of state
and federal military responsibility for the defense and security of
the homeland. It empowers, integrates and equips the men and women
of the National Guard.”
“I saw firsthand the need for a strengthened National Guard in the
immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” said Taylor. “The Guard’s
presence is crucial after a natural disaster, and we must ensure
that they are best equipped to respond to them. Allowing states to
remain in control of the National Guard after a disaster will enable
the Guard to quickly react to the specific needs of the affected
state. We must improve the way the Department of Defense handles
domestic emergencies, and this legislation is a major step toward
accomplishing that.”
The Guard empowerment bill has been endorsed by The National Guard
Association of the United States, the Adjutants General Association
of the United States and the Enlisted National Guard Association of
the United States.
# # # # #
Remarks Of Sen. Patrick Leahy On Introduction
Of The National Guard Empowerment Act Of 2008
Text of
Legislation
Summary Of
Legislation
National
Guard Association of the United States Letter of Support
Adjutant's
General Association of the United States Letter of Support
Enlisted
Association of the National Guard of the United States Letter of
Support
National
Governors Association Letter of Support
