[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2013 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2013

 To amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws of the United 
States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize the City of Salem, 
 Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 16, 2011

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 32, United States Code, the body of laws of the United 
States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize the City of Salem, 
 Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United 
                                States.

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

SECTION 1. OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AS THE 
              BIRTHPLACE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) In 1629, Captain John Endicott organized the first 
        militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Salem.
            (2) The colonists had adopted the English militia system, 
        which required all males between the ages of 16 and 60 to 
        possess arms and participate in the defense of the community.
            (3) In 1636, the Massachusetts General Court ordered the 
        organization of three militia regiments, designated as the 
        North, South, and East regiments.
            (4) These regiments drilled once a week and provided guard 
        details each evening to sound the alarm in case of attack.
            (5) The East Regiment, the predecessor of the 101st 
        Engineer Battalion, assembled as a regiment for the first time 
        in 1637 on the Salem Common, marking the beginning of the 
        Massachusetts National Guard and the National Guard of the 
        United States.
            (6) Since 1785, Salem's own Second Corps of Cadets (101st 
        and 102nd Field Artillery) has celebrated the anniversary of 
        that first muster.
            (7) As the policy contained in section 102 of title 32, 
        United States Code, clearly expresses, the National Guard 
        continues its historic mission of providing units for the first 
        line defense of the United States and current missions 
        throughout the world.
            (8) The designation of the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as 
        the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States will 
        contribute positively to tourism and economic development in 
        the city, create jobs, and instill pride in both the local and 
        State communities.
    (b) Recognition.--Section 102 of title 32, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``In accordance'' and inserting ``(a) 
        Statement of Policy.--In accordance''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Recognition of Salem, Massachusetts, as National Guard 
Birthplace.--The City of Salem, Massachusetts, the site of the first 
muster of a militia regiment in 1637 in what became the United States, 
is hereby recognized as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the 
United States.''.
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