[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3716-S3717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Leahy):
  S. 2681. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for 
reports on the withdrawal or diversion of equipment from Reserve units 
to other Reserve units being mobilized, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Guard Equipment Accountability Act. I want to thank my colleagues, the 
Senator from Delaware, Senator Biden, and the co-chair of the Senate 
National Guard Caucus the Senator from Vermont, Senator Leahy, who have 
cosponsored this important piece of legislation.
  As a Nation, we have a solemn duty to honor, prepare, and properly 
equip all of our men and women in uniform.

[[Page S3717]]

That includes our Reserves and National Guard.
  The National Guard and Reserves represent an essential element of our 
national defense, confronting our enemies in distant lands and 
responding to threats of terror right here within our own borders. In 
Washington State, we face threats from volcanoes, tsunamis, and other 
natural disasters. The National Guard played a critical role in the 
emergency response following the eruption of Mount St. Helens. We have 
relied on the civil response capabilities of the Guard to protect our 
communities from wildfires, floods, and to secure our skies in the 
uncertain hours after 9/11. More recently, in the aftermath of 
Hurricane Katrina, the National Guard responded with urgency and 
compassion.
  There are approximately 30,000 members of the National Guard 
currently deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan. About 500 
members of the Washington National Guard are among them.
  The men and women who serve in the National Guard are making a great 
sacrifice, fulfilling a distinct and important responsibility. And we 
owe them all of the resources necessary to safely and effectively 
achieve their mission.
  Right now, there is simply too much uncertainty and when it comes to 
maintaining adequate equipment levels for our National Guard.
  When our Reserves and National Guard are deployed on operations 
overseas, they are deployed with equipment from their unit.
  While serving abroad, their equipment becomes integrated with the 
greater mission. As a result, when our men and women return home their 
equipment does not often return with them.
  And too often there is no established plan or process to replace or 
even track that equipment once it's been left behind. As a result, too 
many of our National Guard units are left underequipped--lacking the 
necessary equipment for training or to respond to domestic civil 
emergencies.
  The numbers are clear: According to the Department of Defense, the 
Army National Guard has left more than 75,000 items valued at $1.7 
Billion overseas in support of ongoing military operations.
  Last October, the Government Accountability Office found that at the 
time the Army could not account for more than half of all items left 
behind and has not committed to an equipment replacement plan, as 
Department of Defense (DoD) policy requires.
  Given the amount of equipment left behind in total, National Guard 
Units in other States are surely facing a similar situation.
  The provisions of my legislation would simply codify provisions of 
Department of Defense policy that are critical to providing our men and 
women in uniform with the protection and resources they deserve.
  The National Guard Equipment Accountability Act would require a 
comprehensive report about all transferred equipment. Within 90 days of 
diverting equipment from any reserve unit to another reserve unit or to 
active duty forces, the Secretary of the Army or Air Force would be 
required to report it to the Secretary of Defense.
  The report must also include a plan to replace equipment to the 
original unit. Further, if a reserve unit returns from abroad but 
leaves equipment in the theater of operations, the Department of 
Defense would be required to provide a replacement plan for equipment 
to facilitate continued training.
  Finally, my amendment would require a signed Memorandum of 
Understanding specifying exactly how withdrawn equipment will be 
tracked and when that equipment will be returned.
  Given the current equipment situation, my legislation's provisions 
are crucial. Our soldiers have chosen to follow a noble and selfless 
path. We have a responsibility to give our active duty, reserve units, 
and the men and women of the National Guard, the very best resources so 
they may fulfill their mission as safely and effectively as possible.
  We must do so today and everyday for their sacrifice is immense and 
our gratitude is profound.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, first, I want to thank Senator Cantwell for 
her leadership on this issue. This bill is a direct result of what we 
have seen traveling through our States and overseas.
  Every time I travel to Iraq and Afghanistan, I am struck by the 
commitment and professionalism of the men and women of our military. 
They honor America with their service and dedication.
  What is also noticeable to those of us who have been around for 
awhile is that it is impossible to tell who is in the Guard, the 
Reserves, or the Active Duty.
  Unfortunately, when those same brave men and women return home, it is 
often to units lacking the most basic equipment--radios, trucks, and 
engineering equipment.
  This is not ``nice to have'' equipment. It is the essential stuff, 
the most basic equipment, needed to respond to natural disasters or 
perform homeland defense missions.
  When a governor calls the State Adjutant-General because there has 
been a major winter storm, severe flooding, or any natural disaster, 
that governor expects the National Guard to have the ability to get to 
the disaster area, assist those in need, and communicate with State and 
Federal leaders and others responding.
  Today, many State Guard units may not be able to do those basic tasks 
because they do not have the equipment they need.
  Why not? Three reasons.
  First, for years the Guard was not given all of the equipment it 
needed. Most units had 65 to 79 percent of what they needed. So they 
started the war short.
  Second, in 2003 the Army began a policy of leaving equipment in Iraq 
to reduce transportation costs and to make sure that those in Iraq 
would have what they needed. The Defense Department estimates that the 
Army Guard has left over $1.7 billion worth of equipment in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Unfortunately, the Government Accountability Office has found that 
the Army cannot account for over half of these items and, even worse, 
the Army has no plan for replacing the equipment.
  Third, the Army has a huge equipment bill because the equipment in 
Iraq is being worn out at two to nine times the rate planned for and 
the Army is trying to transform itself into a modular force with 
entirely new and different equipment.
  So, I understand why we have equipment shortages. What I don't 
understand is why the Secretary of Defense doesn't have a plan to fix 
the shortages.
  In April of 2005, the Department of Defense issued a policy directive 
that said every time equipment is taken from a Reserve unit, a plan had 
to be developed within 90 days to replace that equipment.
  It's been a full year since the policy was made official and yet 
States across the country are desperately short of needed equipment and 
have not seen any plans.
  Our legislation would simply make 000 live up to its rhetoric and 
provide the plans it has promised.
  There is more that we need to do to address equipment shortages 
throughout all of our ground forces, but at a minimum we should all be 
able to agree to start by following the current policy of the Defense 
Department and make a plan to replace equipment that is not being 
returned to State units.
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