[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2145-S2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Bond):
S. 2760. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the
national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement
of the functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of
Federal-State military coordination in domestic emergency response, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am pleased again to join my friend
and colleague Senator Kit Bond of Missouri in bringing to the Senate
another matter of importance to the missions of the National Guard and
to the dedicated men and women of the Guard who perform these missions.
Today we are introducing the National Guard Empowerment and State-
National Defense Integration Act of 2008. We introduce this legislation
on behalf of the 91-member U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus, which we
co-chair. The military is still not structured properly to respond to
the domestic emergencies that we know will come again. This legislation
would take us tangible steps forward in correcting that. Our bill would
sharpen the Defense Department's focus on helping the National Guard
respond to domestic emergencies.
This legislation is a new phase in our bipartisan and bicameral drive
to empower the Guard for successfully meeting the challenges that our
States and the Nation are asking the Guard to meet. It would clear away
bureaucratic cobwebs in the Defense Department's organizational
structure to improve decision making on homeland defense issues that
involve the Guard. This bill builds on some of the strong provisions
enacted from the previous version of the Guard Empowerment Bill in the
recently enacted fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill. By
empowering the National Guard through more responsibilities,
authorities, and new lines of control, this bill focuses the Defense
Department's attention on this critical realm of domestic defense. The
bill structures potential military operations within the U.S. in a way
outlined by the Constitution, ensuring local and State control--not
Federal control--in these emergencies.
We know that the military--the active duty force, the National Guard,
and the Reserves--has an important role in responding to emergencies at
home, events like natural disasters. The events of Hurricane Katrina
and so many other situations have amply underscored that reality. Our
civilian authorities will continue to want to tap into the resources,
personnel, and expertise, and there is no question that we need a
system that permits that. The debate taking place, mostly behind the
scenes and within the walls of the Pentagon, has been about how we
structure that response. The goal must be an effective response in line
with the Constitution. Our national charter protects our basic
liberties and places sovereignty in the hands of the people through
government with adequate checks and balances, splitting administration
among Federal, State, and local levels.
This Empowerment Bill would be effective because it drives to enhance
the National Guard, our first military responders. This force has
stepped up during dire situations time and time again. The National
Guard takes its responsibility to carry out relief missions at home as
seriously as it takes its missions abroad as the nation's primary
military reserve. The National Guard is a locally based force, spread
out in armories and readiness centers across the country. The Guard can
flow forces among States through the Emergency Management Assistance
Compacts process, which helped make the force one of the few shining
lights in the darkness of the response to Hurricane Katrina. The
National Guard has units that specialize in civil support, including
highly trained, full-time teams located in every one of our States. The
bottom line is that the Guard has shown that it can do this mission and
do it superbly.
The approach of the Empowerment Bill is constitutional because it
properly involves every layer of Government. It is our mayors, our
public safety chiefs, and our Governors who are responsible for the
security of their communities. Under our governmental system, they are
the ones that should be in control of emergency situations and any
Federal assets that come in should be strictly in support of them--
certainly not the other way around. The Guard is a State force that
works closely with these civilian authorities all the time. The Guard,
which serves under the command of the Governors, is part and parcel of
the community. The Guard knows that it is civilians, including their
elected leaders and the populace, who are the ultimate decision-makers
in these situations.
Our bill includes several key provisions. To improve the quality of
advice at the highest levels, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
would gain a full seat on the Joint Chief of Staff, a key advisory body
where insufficient attention is paid to homeland defense matters. The
bill would ensure that U.S. Northern Command remains a Federal military
headquarters that truly supports the Governors and the initial Guard
response in an emergency, providing for the Governors to have tactical
control over any active duty and Reserve assets that might be operating
in their home State during an emergency. The National Guard Bureau is
enhanced in another section which specifically gives the National Guard
a separate budget to purchase domestic defense-oriented items. The
Bureau would carry out its responsibilities in close cooperation with a
newly
[[Page S2146]]
established planning committee and council that integrally involves the
States' Adjutants General. And the bill assigns several key command and
deputy command positions to National Guard officers who have experience
in homeland defense and domestic emergency response matters.
This fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill ushered in several
improvements to the National Guard, including an elevation of the
Bureau Chief to the rank of four-star general. The National Guard
Bureau is now more a joint agency than a sub-branch of the Army and the
Air Force, though the Guard remains a key part of the Army and Air
Force's Total Force. The Deputy Commander or Commander of U.S. Northern
Command now must come from the ranks of the National Guard. These are
far-reaching steps, though I remain concerned that the Department has
yet to implement these provisions, not even filling the four-star
position yet.
Together, last year's enacted organizational changes and those put
forth in this bill will fundamentally improve our preparations for an
emergency, and ensure an effective, swift, and constitutional response
when another emergency occurs.
Our National Guard has never let our country down, and--once again--
we cannot let our Guard down. I urge prompt attention and action on
this vital legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and
supporting material be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
S. 2760
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Guard Empowerment
and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDED AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
BUREAU.
(a) Membership on Joint Chiefs of Staff.--
(1) In general.--Section 151(a) of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(7) The Chief of the National Guard Bureau.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 10502 of such title is
amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection (d):
``(d) Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff.--The Chief of the
National Guard Bureau shall perform the duties prescribed for
him or her as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under
section 151 of this title.''.
(b) Annual Report to Congress on Validated Requirements.--
Section 10504 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Annual Report on Validated Requirements.--Not later
than December 31 each year, the Chief of the National Guard
Bureau shall submit to Congress a report on the following:
``(1) The requirements validated under section 10503a(b)(1)
of this title during the preceding fiscal year.
``(2) The requirements referred to in paragraph (1) for
which funding is to be requested in the next budget for a
fiscal year under section 10544 of this title.
``(3) The requirements referred to in paragraph (1) for
which funding will not be requested in the next budget for a
fiscal year under section 10544 of this title.''.
SEC. 3. EXPANDED FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU.
(a) Military Assistance for Civil Authorities.--Chapter
1011 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after section 10503 the following new section:
``Sec. 10503a. Functions of National Guard Bureau: military
assistance to civil authorities
``(a) Identification of Additional Necessary Assistance.--
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall--
``(1) identify gaps between Federal and State military
capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and
``(2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on
programs and activities of the National Guard for military
assistance to civil authorities to address such gaps.
``(b) Scope of Responsibilities.--In meeting the
requirements of subsection (a), the Chief of the National
Guard Bureau shall, in coordination with the adjutants
general of the States, have responsibilities as follows:
``(1) To validate the requirements of the several States
and Territories with respect to military assistance to civil
authorities.
``(2) To develop doctrine and training requirements
relating to the provision of military assistance to civil
authorities.
``(3) To acquire equipment, materiel, and other supplies
and services for the provision of military assistance to
civil authorities.
``(4) To assist the Secretary of Defense in preparing the
budget required under section 10544 of this title.
``(5) To administer amounts provided the National Guard for
the provision of military assistance to civil authorities.
``(6) To carry out any other responsibility relating to the
provision of military assistance to civil authorities as the
Secretary of Defense shall specify.
``(c) Assistance.--The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff shall assist the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in
carrying out activities under this section.
``(d) Consultation.--(1) The Chief of the National Guard
Bureau shall carry out activities under this section through
and utilizing an integrated planning process established by
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau for purposes of this
subsection. The planning process may be known as the
`National Guard Bureau Strategic Integrated Planning
Process'.
``(2)(A) Under the integrated planning process established
under paragraph (1)--
``(i) the planning committee described in subparagraph (B)
shall develop and submit to the planning directorate
described in subparagraph (C) plans and proposals on such
matters under the planning process as the Chief of the
National Guard Bureau shall designate for purposes of this
subsection; and
``(ii) the planning directorate shall review and make
recommendations to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on
the plans and proposals submitted to the planning directorate
under clause (i).
``(B) The planning committee described in this subparagraph
is a planning committee (to be known as the `State Strategic
Integrated Planning Committee') composed of the adjutant
general of each of the several States, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the District of
Columbia.
``(C) The planning directorate described in this
subparagraph is a planning directorate (to be known as the
`Federal Strategic Integrated Planning Directorate') composed
of the following (as designated by the Secretary of Defense
for purposes of this subsection):
``(i) A major general of the Army National Guard.
``(ii) A major general of the Air National Guard.
``(iii) A major general of the regular Army.
``(iv) A major general of the regular Air Force.
``(v) A major general (other than a major general under
clauses (iii) and (iv)) of the United States Northern
Command.
``(vi) The Director of the Joint Staff of the National
Guard Bureau under section 10505 of this title.
``(vii) Seven adjutants general from the planning committee
under paragraph (B).''.
(b) Budgeting for Training and Equipment for Military
Assistance to Civil Authorities and Other Domestic
Missions.--Chapter 1013 of such title is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 10544. National Guard training and equipment: budget
for military assistance to civil authorities and for other
domestic operations
``(a) In General.--The budget justification documents
materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of
the President for a fiscal year (as submitted with the budget
of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31) shall
specify separate amounts for training and equipment for the
National Guard for purposes of military assistance to civil
authorities and for other domestic operations during such
fiscal year.
``(b) Scope of Funding.--The amounts specified under
subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be sufficient for
purposes as follows:
``(1) The development and implementation of doctrine and
training requirements applicable to the assistance and
operations described in subsection (a) for such fiscal year.
``(2) The acquisition of equipment, materiel, and other
supplies and services necessary for the provision of such
assistance and such operations in such fiscal year.''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1011
of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 10503 the following new item:
``10503a. Functions of National Guard Bureau: military assistance to
civil authorities.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1013
of such title is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
``10544. National Guard training and equipment: budget for military
assistance to civil authorities and for other domestic
operations.''.
SEC. 4. REDESIGNATION OF POSITIONS OF DIRECTOR OF THE ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD, DIRECTOR OF THE AIR NATIONAL
GUARD, AND ASSOCIATED POSITIONS.
(a) Redesignation.--Section 10506 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``Director, Army National Guard'' each
place it appears and inserting ``Vice Chief, Army National
Guard'';
(2) by striking ``Deputy Director, Army National Guard''
each place it appears and inserting ``Deputy Vice Chief, Army
National Guard'';
(3) by striking ``Director, Air National Guard'' each place
it appears and inserting ``Vice Chief, Air National Guard'';
and
[[Page S2147]]
(4) by striking ``Deputy Director, Air National Guard''
each place it appears and inserting ``Deputy Vice Chief, Air
National Guard''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 14512(a)(2)(D) of such
title is amended by striking ``Director of the Army National
Guard, or Director of the Air National Guard'' and inserting
``Vice Chief of the Army National Guard, or Vice Chief of the
Air National Guard''.
(c) References.--
(1) Director, army national guard.--Any reference in a law,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the Director of the Army National Guard shall be
deemed to be a reference to the Vice Chief of the Army
National Guard.
(2) Deputy director, army national guard.--Any reference in
a law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the
United States to the Deputy Director of the Army National
Guard shall be deemed to be a reference to the Deputy Vice
Chief of the Army National Guard.
(3) Director, air national guard.--Any reference in a law,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the Director of the Air National Guard shall be
deemed to be a reference to the Vice Chief of the Air
National Guard.
(4) Deputy director, air national guard.--Any reference in
a law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the
United States to the Deputy Director of the Air National
Guard shall be deemed to be a reference to the Deputy Vice
Chief of the Air National Guard.
SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN SERVICE AS JOINT DUTY
EXPERIENCE.
(a) Vice Chiefs, Army and Air National Guard.--Section
10506(a)(3) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by
section 4(a) of this Act, is further amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) as
subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
subparagraph (C):
``(C) Service of an officer as adjutant general shall be
treated as joint duty experience for purposes of assignment
or promotion to any position designated by law as open to a
National Guard general officer.''.
(b) Adjutants General and Similar Officers.--The service of
an officer of the Armed Forces as adjutant general, or as an
officer (other than adjutant general) of the National Guard
of a State who performs the duties of adjutant general under
the laws of such State, shall be treated as joint duty or
joint duty experience for purposes of any provisions of law
required such duty or experience as a condition of assignment
or promotion.
(c) Annual Reports on Duty in Joint Force Headquarters to
Qualify as Joint Duty Experience.--Not later than six months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall, in
consultation with the adjutants general of the National
Guard, submit to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and to Congress a report setting forth the recommendations of
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau as to which duty of
officers, and which duty of enlisted members, of the National
Guard in the Joint Force Headquarters of the National Guard
of the States should qualify as joint duty or joint duty
experience for purposes of the provisions of law requiring
such duty or experience as a condition of assignment or
promotion.
(d) Annual Reports on Joint Education Courses.--Not later
than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff shall submit to Congress a report setting forth
information on the joint education courses available through
the Department of Defense for purposes of the pursuit of
joint careers by officers in the Armed Forces. Each report
shall include, for the preceding year, the following:
(1) A list and description of the joint education courses
so available during such year.
(2) A list and description of the joint education courses
listed under paragraph (1) that are available to and may be
completed by officers of the reserve components of the Armed
Forces in other than an in-resident duty status under title
10, United States Code, or title 32, United States Code.
(3) For each course listed under paragraph (1), the number
of officers from each Armed Force who pursued such course
during such year, including the number of officers of the
Army National Guard, and of the Air National Guard, who
pursued such course.
SEC. 6. ENHANCEMENT OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO THE UNITED
STATES NORTHERN COMMAND AND OTHER COMBATANT
COMMANDS.
(a) Commands Responsible for Support to Civil Authorities
in the United States.--The United States Northern Command and
the United States Pacific Command shall be the combatant
commands of the Armed Forces that are principally responsible
for the support of civil authorities in the United States by
the Armed Forces.
(b) Discharge of Responsibility.--In discharging the
responsibility set forth in subsection (a), the Commander of
the United States Northern Command and the Commander of the
United States Pacific Command shall each--
(1) in consultation with and acting through the Chief of
the National Guard Bureau and the Joint Force Headquarters of
the National Guard of the State or States concerned, assist
the States in the employment of the National Guard under
State control, including National Guard operations conducted
in State active duty or under title 32, United States Code;
and
(2) facilitate the deployment of the Armed Forces on active
duty under title 10, United States Code, as necessary to
augment and support the National Guard in its support of
civil authorities when National Guard operations are
conducted under State control, whether in State active duty
or under title 32, United States Code.
(c) Memorandum of Understanding.--
(1) Memorandum required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the
United States Northern Command, the Commander of the United
States Pacific Command, and the Chief of the National Guard
Bureau shall, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense,
jointly enter into a memorandum of understanding setting
forth the operational relationships, and individual roles and
responsibilities, during responses to domestic emergencies
among the United States Northern Command, the United States
Pacific Command, and the National Guard Bureau.
(2) Modification.--The Commander of the United States
Northern Command, the Commander of the United States Pacific
Command, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau may from
time to time modify the memorandum of understanding under
this subsection to address changes in circumstances and for
such other purposes as the Commander of the United States
Northern Command, the Commander of the United States Pacific
Command, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau jointly
consider appropriate. Each such modification shall be subject
to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
(d) Authority To Modify Assignment of Command
Responsibility.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
as altering or limiting the power of the President or the
Secretary of Defense to modify the Unified Command Plan in
order to assign all or part of the responsibility described
in subsection (a) to a combatant command other than the
United States Northern Command or the United States Pacific
Command.
(e) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
regulations for purposes of aiding the expeditious
implementation of the authorities and responsibilities in
this section.
SEC. 7. STATE CONTROL OF FEDERAL MILITARY FORCES ENGAGED IN
ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE STATES AND POSSESSIONS.
(a) In General.--Part I of subtitle A of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 15 the
following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 16--CONTROL OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE
STATES AND POSSESSIONS
``Sec.
``341. Tactical control of the armed forces engaged in activities
within the States and possessions: emergency response
activities.
``Sec. 341. Tactical control of the armed forces engaged in
activities within the States and possessions: emergency
response activities
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
in regulations policies and procedures to assure that
tactical control of the armed forces on active duty within a
State or possession is vested in the governor of the State or
possession, as the case may be, when such forces are engaged
in emergency response activities within such State or
possession.
``(b) Discharge Through Joint Force Headquarters.--The
policies and procedures required under subsection (a) shall
provide for the discharge of tactical control by the governor
of a State or possession as described in that subsection
through the Joint Force Headquarters of the National Guard in
the State or possession, as the case may be, acting through
the officer of the National Guard in command of the
Headquarters.
``(c) Possessions Defined.--Notwithstanding any provision
of section 101(a), in this section, the term `possessions'
means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin
Islands.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the
beginning of title 10, United States Code, and at the
beginning of part I of subtitle A of such title, are each
amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 15
the following new item:
``16. Control of the Armed Forces in Activities Within the States and
Possessions..............................................341''.....
SEC. 8. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS IN
CERTAIN COMMAND POSITIONS.
(a) Commander of Army North Command.--The officer serving
in the position of Commander, Army North Command, shall be an
officer in the Army National Guard of the United States.
(b) Commander of Air Force North Command.--The officer
serving in the position of Commander, Air Force North
Command, shall be an officer in the Air National Guard of the
United States.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that,
in assigning officers to the command positions specified in
subsections (a) and (b), the President should afford a
preference in assigning officers in the Army National Guard
of the United States or Air National Guard of the United
States, as applicable, who have served as the adjutant
general of a State.
[[Page S2148]]
(d) Certain Joint Task Force Positions.--
(1) In general.--Of the officers serving in the positions
specified in each subparagraph of paragraph (2), as least one
such officer under each subparagraph shall be an officer in
the Army National Guard of the United States or an officer in
the Air National Guard of the United States.
(2) Covered positions.--The positions specified in this
paragraph are:
(A) Commander, Joint Task Force Alaska, and Deputy
Commander, Joint Task Force Alaska.
(B) Commander, Joint Task Force Civil Support, and Deputy
Commander, Joint Task Force Civil Support.
(C) Commander, Joint Task Force North, and Deputy
Commander, Joint Task Force North.
____
Summary: National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense
Integration Act of 2008
purpose
To enhance the national defense through empowerment of the
National Guard, enhancement of the functions of the National
Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State military
coordination in domestic emergency response
SECTION 1: Title
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense
Integration Act of 2008
Section 2: Joint Chiefs of Staff
Make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a full member
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Section 3: Guard Bureau Duties
Formally give the Guard Bureau the function of working with
the states to identify equipment gaps for the purpose of
providing military assistance to civil authorities. The
Bureau shall work with states--through a State/Adjutant
General-dominated planning committee and Federal planning
directorate--to validate equipment requirements, develop
doctrine for assisting civil authorities in emergencies,
acquire necessary equipment, prepare a military assistance
budget, and administer the funding provided for military
assistance.
Section 4: Vice Chiefs
Rename the positions of Activities Directors of the Army
and Air National Guard to ``Deputy Vice Chief, Army National
Guard'' and ``Deputy Vice Chief, Air National Guard,''
respectively.
Section 5: Joint Duty Credit
Provides the Adjutant Generals of the United States with
so-called Joint Duty Credit for their experience in the
position. Requires the Department of Defense to provide a
report on providing joint-duty credit for officers serving in
National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, as well as summary
of Joint-Duty courses available for Reserve Components
officers interested in following a joint career.
Section 6: Northern Command
States that Northern Command and Pacific Command are the
commands responsible for providing military assistance for
civil authorities, and, to carry out that responsibility,
these commands must assist the states in employing the
National Guard and facilitate the deployment of Title 10
forces to supplement and support the Guard, whether operating
in State Active Duty or under Title 32 United State Code.
Northern Command and Pacific Command must complete a
Memorandum of Understanding with the National Guard Bureau on
their operational relationship within 180 days of enactment.
Section 7: Governor's Tactical Control
Direction to the Department of Defense to establish
procedures for the nation's Governors to have tactical
control over the military forces, including Title 10 active
forces, operating in their state during an emergency. Such
tactical control will be exercised by the Governor through
the Joint Forces Headquarters of the National Guard of the
State. According to Department of Defense standard terms,
Tactical Control is ``Command authority over assigned or
attached forces or commands ... that is limited to the
detailed direction and control of movements or maneuvers
within the operational area necessary to accomplish missions
or tasks assigned.''
Section 8: National Guard Command Positions
A National Guard officer will remain Commander of Air Force
North, while Guard officers shall become the Commander Army
North, and Commander or Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force
Alaska, Joint Task Force Civil Support, and Joint Task Force
North.
____
National Guard Association
of the United States, Inc.,
Washington, DC, March 13, 2008.
Hon. Patrick Leahy,
U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Leahy: The National Guard Association of the
United States applauds your introduction of the ``National
Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act
of 2008.'' Your legislation is the logical next step in fully
codifying the initiatives that had their birth two years ago
in the National Guard Empowerment Act.
With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act
for 2008, many of the substantive elements of ``empowerment''
for the National Guard have been presented to the Department
of Defense for immediate implementation in accordance with
the wishes of the Congress. We are eagerly awaiting their
timely response.
Meanwhile, we support the additional well-reasoned
legislative remedies contained in your new bill that will
knit together the missing pieces of the empowerment concept.
In our view, empowerment for the National Guard is simply a
restatement, in contemporary language, of the reliance placed
on the National Guard by the framers of the United States
Constitution in Article 1, Section 8.
Thank you for leading this effort for the American people.
Sincerely,
Stephen M. Koper,
Brigadier General, USAF (ret),
President.
____
Adjutants General Association
of the United States,
Washington, DC, March 13, 2008.
Hon. Patrick Leahy,
U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Leahy: The Adjutants General Association of
the United States commends you, your colleagues and your
staff on your foresight in introducing the ''National Guard
Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of
2008.'' This legislation will take the next logical step in
advancing the gains of the National Guard Empowerment Act and
ensuring the intent of that legislation is met.
We understand and appreciate just how hard you and the
entire Guard Caucus worked to gain passage of the National
Defense Authorization Act for 2008, which gave birth to
``empowerment'' for the National Guard. However, the
realization of empowerment has been slow to materialize. With
the introduction of this legislation, we are hopeful that the
Department of Defense will act in accordance with the wishes
of the Congress.
Again, we thank you for your new bill which will serve to
complete the vision of the empowerment concept, which had its
genesis two years ago with the original National Guard
Empowerment Act. It is clear that empowerment for the
National Guard remains a priority of the Congress.
We thank you for your continuing efforts on the National
Guard's behalf.
Sincerely,
Francis D. Vavala,
Major General, DEARNG,
President AGAUS.
____
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United
States,
Alexandria, VA, March 13, 2008.
Hon. Patrick Leahy,
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
Hon. Kit Bond,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the
United States, EANGUS is pleased to express our strongest
possible support, on behalf of the Enlisted men and women of
the Army and Air National Guard, in your efforts to amend
Title 10 of the United States Code to enhance the
responsibilities of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
and the functions of the National Guard Bureau.
Although some historic changes were made in Public Law 110-
181, signed by the President on January 28,2008, many of the
original provisions of the National Guard Empowerment Act
of2007 were ``left on the cutting table'' and not enacted
into law. These valuable and necessary provisions must be
addressed and are addressed in your legislation.
Our association stands firm in support of your action to
remedy this error of omission. The lack of respect of the
leadership of the National Guard by service secretaries and
leaders, the consistent under-funding of National Guard
appropriations accounts, and the intentional lack of
communication and coordination all have the possibility of
being rectified by this legislation by making the Chief a
full partner in the decision-making and appropriations
process.
Thank you for taking legislative action that is not only
timely, but unfortunately necessary, and long overdue. We
look forward to working with your staff as this legislation
works its way into law.
Working for America's Best!
Michael P. Cline,
Master Sergeant, USA (Ret),
Executive Director.
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