[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 355 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 355

Honoring the service of the National Guard and requesting consultation 
  by the Department of Defense with Congress and the chief executive 
   officers of the States prior to offering proposals to change the 
                    National Guard force structure.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2006

Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Allen, Mr. Talent, 
    Mrs. Dole, Mr. DeWine, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
 Isakson, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Dorgan, 
Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Baucus, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
Kohl, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
   Lieberman, Mr. Biden, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
    Menendez, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the service of the National Guard and requesting consultation 
  by the Department of Defense with Congress and the chief executive 
   officers of the States prior to offering proposals to change the 
                    National Guard force structure.

Whereas the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the United States, 
        representing all 50 States, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin 
        Islands, and the District of Columbia, have played an indispensable role 
        in the defense of our country;
Whereas during one phase of the Global War on Terrorism, Army National Guard 
        soldiers comprised nearly half of the United States combat forces in 
        Iraq;
Whereas National Guard personnel are currently deployed in Afghanistan, Bosnia, 
        Kosovo, and more than 40 other countries around the world;
Whereas 90 percent of the troops on the ground in Louisiana and Mississippi 
        responding to Hurricane Katrina were members of the National Guard;
Whereas while performing these critical missions, the National Guard continues 
        to experience significant equipment shortages, especially vehicle and 
        radio shortages;
Whereas members of the National Guard are not ``weekend warriors'', but citizen-
        soldiers and airmen who serve full-time when their country needs them to 
        do so;
Whereas the National Guard is a resource shared by the chief executive officers 
        of the States and the President;
Whereas the National Guard is America's militia;
Whereas deployment to fight terrorism on two fronts overseas, while protecting 
        our homeland, has stretched the National Guard thin;
Whereas the future of the National Guard could be determined by the Quadrennial 
        Defense Review (QDR) currently underway;
Whereas the Army and Air Force could recommend changes in the force structure of 
        the National Guard;
Whereas reductions in force structure could impact numerous Army National Guard 
        armories and Air National Guard wings;
Whereas reductions in force structure combined with the lack of adequate 
        equipment for the National Guard threaten its capacity to discharge its 
        missions and its ability to respond in emergencies;
Whereas homeland defense is the most important mission of the Department of 
        Defense; and
Whereas the National Guard is the force best suited to defend the homeland and 
        therefore the element from which resources should not be cut: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the vital Federal and State missions of the 
        Army National Guard of the United States and the Air National 
        Guard of the United States, including support of ongoing 
        missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and homeland defense and 
        disaster assistance and relief efforts;
            (2) recommends that the Department of Defense propose fully 
        funding the equipment needs of the National Guard;
            (3) believes that the Department of Defense should, as soon 
        as possible, consult with the chief executive officers of the 
        States, as well as Congress, on any proposed changes to the 
        National Guard force structure;
            (4) requests that any plan of the Department of Defense 
        regarding the National Guard force structure take into account 
        the role of the National Guard role in homeland defense and 
        other State missions as defined by the chief executive officers 
        of the States;
            (5) requests that the Department of Defense prepare budget 
        projections that detail cost savings from any changes in 
        National Guard force structure, as well as projected costs in 
        the event large personnel increases are necessary to respond to 
        a national emergency; and
            (6) requests that the Department of Defense assure Congress 
        and the chief executive officers of the States that potential 
        changes in the National Guard force structure will not impact 
        the safety and security of the United States people.
                                 <all>