[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 13 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S365-S366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. 
        Leahy, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 242. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the 
roles and responsibilities of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau; 
to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise before you today with Senators 
Snowe, Leahy, Wyden, Johnson and Kerry to introduce important 
legislation--the Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011--which will make the 
Chief of the National Guard Bureau a member of

[[Page S366]]

the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This legislation will strengthen our 
national security both abroad and here at home.
  The Joint Chiefs of Staff does an outstanding job providing support 
to the Secretary of Defense and performing oversight of military 
personnel and resources within the Department of Defense. However, it 
lacks the voice of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau who 
represents more than twenty percent of the uniformed service members.
  This is important because each member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is 
a military adviser to the President, the National Security Council, the 
Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. In that role, 
they may offer their advice and opinions to the President, the National 
Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of 
Defense. And, as we all know, the National Guard has important homeland 
security responsibilities in addition to national defense 
responsibilities.
  As the former Governor of West Virginia, I cannot say enough about 
the importance of the National Guard. The National Guard is always 
there. Whether it is flooding, snow storms, tornadoes, or other 
disasters, the National Guard comes to the rescue of communities in 
every State throughout our Nation. And, I would bet that there is a 
member of the National Guard living in every single congressional 
district and every single community in our country. These citizen-
soldiers are our Governors' emergency force.
  Unlike our active-duty forces, the National Guard has both a State 
and Federal mission. Now I'm not taking anything away from our active-
duty or reserve forces as they have always performed, and will continue 
to perform, in an outstanding fashion. However, the National Guard is 
unique in that it serves each State's Governor in addition to the 
President and Commander-in-Chief.
  The National Guard's State mission includes responding to natural and 
man-made disasters as well as domestic emergencies. They have been 
called to respond to hurricanes, floods and snow storms. They serve 
next door to each of us.
  Among the National Guard's Federal responsibilities is providing 
homeland defense and defense support to civil authorities. The National 
Guard accomplishes its Federal mission through a variety of programs. 
One of those programs is the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, 
Nuclear, or High-Yield Explosive Teams, which respond to incidents and 
support local, State, and Federal agencies as they conduct 
decontamination, medical support, and casualty search and extraction.
  Last year's Quadrennial Defense Review acknowledged that the 
Department of Defense must be prepared to provide appropriate support 
to civil authorities. One key finding of the Quadrennial Defense Review 
was the recognition of the need to field faster, more flexible 
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives 
events consequence management response forces. As a result of this 
finding, the National Guard will build a Homeland Response Force in 
each of the 10 Federal Emergency Management Agency regions. These 10 
Homeland Response Forces will provide the needed response capability. 
These are just two of the many ways in which the National Guard works 
directly with the homeland security community as the central connection 
between the Federal Government and State and local officials. And, I 
would be remiss if I did not mention that a primary training unit for 
these Homeland Response Forces is the West Virginia National Guard's 
Joint Interagency Training & Education Center.
  These Federal programs, along with the National Guard's State 
mission, clearly illustrate the National Guard's unequivocal role in 
protecting our home front. And, it goes without saying that our Guard 
members make tremendous contributions to military operations outside of 
the United States.
  Today, tens of thousands of Guard members train with first responders 
and protect life and property here at home, while also engaging in 
combat operations in far-off, dangerous locations--including Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Since September 11, 2001, our National Guardsmen have been called 
upon to deploy abroad at a higher rate than ever before. At the same 
time their domestic and State missions have expanded. Given the 
National Guard's role in defending our country, it is important that 
the National Guard be resourced and equipped to fulfill its dual 
mission.
  Our Guard members must be assured of the ability to meet their 
obligations to their Governors, their next door neighbors, and to our 
Nation as a whole. In order to do that, the National Guard's voice must 
be heard at the highest levels of our government.
  By making the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a member of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011 will 
guarantee that the National Guard is a part of the discussion as the 
Nation responds to threats both foreign and domestic. It also makes 
certain that the concerns of the Nation's Governors are considered when 
resources are scarce. And it will build upon the relationship developed 
between the active-duty forces and the National Guard, a bond has been 
strengthened as a result of the ongoing operations.
  Before I end my remarks, I want to acknowledge Major General Allen 
Tackett, the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard for 
the last 15 years and the longest serving Adjutant General in the 
country. Major General Tackett is retiring today after enlisting in the 
Army more than 45 years ago. He has been a great partner and visionary 
over the years. He led the transformation of the West Virginia National 
Guard and, according to General McKinley, Chief of the National Guard 
Bureau, is leaving West Virginia with the Nation's finest National 
Guard. I can honestly say that we are better off as a Nation because he 
chose to dedicate his life to defending ours. Thank you, Major General 
Tackett. God smiled on West Virginia the day he gave us you, and we are 
eternally grateful.

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