[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 6 (Thursday, January 26, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S231-S232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S231]]
 SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  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 Committees on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 355

       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.

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on 
behalf of a resolution I am submitting with Senator Graham and 31 other 
senators, many of whom are members of the National Guard Caucus like me 
and Senator Graham. I am also very proud to note that the National 
Guard Association of the United States has endorsed our resolution.
  This resolution honors the service of the National Guard and requests 
consultation by the Department of Defense with the Congress and our 
Nation's Governors prior to offering proposals that could change the 
force structure of the Guard. In my opinion, it could not be timelier 
or more important.
  We all know the tremendous sacrifices the National Guard is making 
around the globe today. The Army National Guard and the Air National 
Guard represent 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands 
and the District of Columbia and they are currently hard at work in 
Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and over 40 other countries around 
the world.
  Long gone is the phrase ``weekend warrior''. The Guard is made up of 
citizen-soldiers and airmen who serve full-time when their country 
calls on them. Since September 11, they have responded and represented 
America's militia with great honor.
  Currently, the Nebraska National Guard has 364 personnel in Iraq. 
Their units are the 1-167th Cavalry which provides combat support to 
the Marines, the 67 Area Support Group which is responsible for command 
and control and the 189th Truck Company which handles convoy 
operations. In Afghanistan, there are 65 National Guard members of the 
2nd Battalion at the Regional Training Institute helping to train the 
Afghan National Army. Their Adjutant General, Major General Roger L. 
Lempke, leads the Nebraska National Guard with great pride and 
distinction. He is a credit to the National Guard, Nebraska and the 
Nation he represents.
  The Guard is unique in that it's a shared resource between the 
Governors and the President. The National Guard is the first to respond 
to domestic emergencies which range from natural disasters to homeland 
defense. Ninety percent of the troops on the ground in Louisiana and 
Mississippi responding to Hurricane Katrina were members of the 
National Guard.
  Most Nebraskans will recall the blizzard that roared out of Colorado 
in October 1997 and slammed into Nebraska causing extensive damage that 
would take weeks to clean up. It was fall and most trees still had 
their leaves. Branches snapped under the weight of more than a foot of 
heavy, wet snow and ice. The resulting power outages left 125,000 
Nebraskans without electricity for days and even weeks.
  As governor of Nebraska then, it was the responsibility of my office 
to declare a state of emergency which activated the National Guard to 
help in clean up and rescue operations. The Guard responded with troops 
and equipment that made the effort proceed smoothly and efficiently.

  The Guard handles State missions like this every year and every 
season while experiencing critical equipment shortages, especially 
vehicle and radio shortages. Congress added $1 billion dollars for new 
equipment for the Guard last December, but that's only a small portion 
of what is needed to fully fund the equipment needs of the Guard. And 
deployments, especially to Iraq and Afghanistan, have stretched the 
Guard thin.
  It's in this environment that the Department of Defense will release 
the Quadrennial Defense Review next month. The QDR review could impact 
the future of the Guard. The Army and the Air Force may recommend 
changes in the force structure which will impact Army National Guard 
armories and Air National Guard wings throughout the country.
  Reductions in the force structure combined with a lack of adequate 
equipment for the National Guard threaten its missions and ability to 
respond in an emergency. Homeland defense is the most important mission 
of the Department of Defense and the National Guard is the force best 
suited to defend the homeland. It's the very last place resources 
should be cut from.
  Unfortunately, media reports indicate that to pay for modernization 
programs, the Department of Defense will propose changing the Guard's 
force structure. In an effort to begin a dialogue with DOD we are 
offering this resolution which honors the National Guard and recommends 
that DOD: Fully funding the equipment needs of

[[Page S232]]

the National Guard; requests that the Department of Defense should, as 
soon as possible, consult with Governors, as well as Congress, on any 
proposed changes to the National Guard force structure; requests that 
any plan of the Department of Defense regarding the National Guard 
force structure take into account the role of the National Guard in 
homeland defense and other state mission defined by Governors; requests 
the Department of Defense provide 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 requests the Department of Defense 
assure Congress, and Governors, that potential force structure changes 
will not impact the safety and security of the American people.
  Every debate about the defense budget should be held in the context 
of long-term national security goals. I look forward to engaging with 
the Department on their QDR proposals for the future of America's 
militia, the National Guard, and I urge adoption of this resolution by 
the full Senate.

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