[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2303 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2303

To ensure that the one half of the National Guard forces of each State 
   are available to such State at all times, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 16, 2006

  Mr. Baucus introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To ensure that the one half of the National Guard forces of each State 
   are available to such State at all times, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ONGOING AVAILABILITY TO STATES OF MINIMUM NATIONAL GUARD 
              FORCES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Homeland defense is the most important mission of the 
        Department of Defense.
            (2) Participating in the fight against terrorism abroad 
        while carrying out homeland defense missions has left the 
        National Guard stretched too thin.
            (3) The Air National Guard is currently providing more than 
        50 percent of the airlift capability in the Global War on 
        Terrorism.
            (4) More than 50 percent of the land combat forces in Iraq 
        are Army National Guard forces, and more than 85 percent of the 
        Army National Guard units available for mobilization for the 
        war in Iraq have been so mobilized.
            (5) Proposed modifications in the force structure of the 
        Armed Forces could have adverse effects on Army National Guard 
        armories and Air National Guard wings.
            (6) Army National Guard Brigade Combat Teams and their 
        supporting units in Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, 
        North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington provide 
        trained and disciplined rapid response forces in support of 
        State military and law enforcement requirements. Such support 
        is essential to ensure that each State fulfills its homeland 
        defense, homeland security, and military recruitment 
        responsibilities.
            (7) The National Guard supports a structure, equipment, and 
        end strength that mirrors the regular components of the Armed 
        Forces and facilitates security missions both abroad and at 
        home, including the response to natural and man-made disasters.
            (8) Ninety percent of the troops who responded to Hurricane 
        Katrina were members of the National Guard.
            (9) The end-strength of the National Guard has been reduced 
        by more than 100,000 members and is lower than at any time in 
        recent history even though the National Guard is currently 
        sustaining the highest continuous personnel tempo and 
        operations tempo since World War II.
            (10) The militia, and the principle of the citizen-soldier 
        protecting our security which it reflects, is one of the 
        foundations of the United States as a nation.
    (b) Availability to States of Minimum National Guard Forces.--The 
forces of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard available to 
each State at all times shall be equivalent to not less than 50 percent 
of the aggregate forces of the Army National Guard and Air National 
Guard, respectively, of such State. Upon the request of the Governor of 
a State, the Secretary of Defense shall transfer Army National Guard or 
Air National Guard forces to the State in order to ensure that the 
requirement of this subsection is met.
                                 <all>