110 HR 2539 IH: To recognize the performance of the United States U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2539 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 24, 2007 Mr. Perlmutter (for himself, Ms. Clarke, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Hodes, Mr. Murphy of Connecticut, and Ms. Sutton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To recognize the performance of the United States military in Iraq, to begin the redeployment of National Guard units, and to ensure the protection of the States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Guard Redeployment and Homeland Protection Act of 2007.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The members of the United States military serving in Iraq have demonstrated the utmost bravery, honor, and sacrifice for their country. (2)The Army National Guard and Air National Guard comprise a significant portion of the enlisted personnel serving in Iraq. (3)The Army’s effort to implement the Army Force Generation Model is greatly complicated by the lengthened deployments of Active, Reserve, and Guard components. (4)The National Guard is overextended, and has frequently been given less than two years of dwell-time between deployments to Iraq. (5)Much of the equipment required to adequately train National Guard units for homeland defense and combat readiness is currently in use in combat zones in Iraq. (6)The Chief of the National Guard Bureau has testified before Congress that the National Guard is not a ready force. (7)The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves concluded that 88 percent of National Guard units are under-equipped in case of a domestic emergency. (8)Many States will not have an adequate response to natural disaster due to the extended deployment of National Guard units. (9)The National Guard motto Always Ready, Always There is severely compromised by the overdeployment, extended deployments, and lack of equipment of the National Guard as a result of the War in Iraq. (10)The Constitution recognizes the National Guard as the frontline defense of the homeland, and the National Guard should be immediately trained and equipped to fully complete that mission.

3.

Redeployment of National Guard units to the United States

(a)

Completion of redeployment

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall complete the redeployment of Army National Guard and Air National Guard units serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom to the United States. (b)

Return of equipment

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall return all essential National Guard equipment used in Operation Iraqi Freedom to the States for use for domestic security purposes.