[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E414-E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2015

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the National Guard 
State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015, which strengthens 
this critical ``soft power'' global partnership program. The National 
Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) provides unique capacity building 
capabilities to Combatant Commanders and U.S. Chiefs of Mission via 68 
comprehensive partnerships between National Guard units across the 
United States and 74 partner nations with the potential for further 
development.
  For over 20 years, the SPP has directly supported the broad national 
interests and security cooperation goals of the United States by 
engaging partner nations via military, sociopolitical, and economic 
conduits at the local, state, and national levels. The program's public 
diplomacy effectiveness lies in its ability to leverage the full 
breadth and depth of U.S. defense and interagency capabilities from 
within the state-country relationship.
  The value of the SPP lies in its ability to concentrate a small 
component of the U.S. defense structure--a state's National Guard--on a 
single country or region in support of U.S. Government policies and 
objectives that are coordinated between the Combatant Commander and 
U.S. Chief of Mission. This concentrated focus supports the development 
of long term personal relationships and interagency coordination 
mechanisms that would not otherwise exist. By its nature the National 
Guard is uniquely positioned within the military to develop these long 
term relationships.
  The SPP is becoming an increasingly more important tool for Combatant 
Commanders and U.S. Chiefs of Mission in achieving long-term U.S. 
strategic objectives. The program has developed from assistance and 
partnership with primarily Eastern European nations to a program that 
supports all the non-CONUS combatant commanders. Recently, the long-
term benefits of this program became evident. In particular, I 
highlight the 22-year relationship between the California National 
Guard and Ukraine. When the instability in Ukraine began the California 
National Guard got some of the clearest insight we had into the 
situation by virtue of the long term relationship they had forged with 
Ukraine's military and civil institutions.
  Of additional interest to me are the opportunities that SPP poses for 
our rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. I believe the SPP will 
further expand and strengthen relations with many Asian and Pacific 
nations. The program clearly demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the 
region and our allies. In fact, one of the newest partnerships was 
established last year between Tonga and the Nevada National Guard. 
These types of partnerships help to develop critical capacity building 
capabilities for allies in this critical region of the world.
  Most importantly, the bill I introduce today eliminates the 2016 
termination of the program. Additionally, it removes the program 
restriction to be primarily a humanitarian and emergency response force 
and expands it to support the national interests and security 
cooperation goals and objectives of the United States. Elimination of 
this restrictive language helps to recognize the true nature of SPP and 
acknowledges broader partnerships that already exist. Requiring the 
Chief of the National Guard Bureau to development ``core competencies'' 
will help the Combatant Commanders and U.S. Chiefs of Mission more 
effectively use, develop and maintain partnership programs.
  Further, the bill ensures that Department of Defense, a state 
National Guard and Department of State's equities are considered in the 
context of broader program goals and lays out the roles of the 
Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and Chief of the National 
Guard Bureau in managing the program. The bill puts in place critical 
oversight mechanisms to establish metrics through which to analyze the 
impact of the program. Lastly, this bill creates an accounting line 
within DoD that allows National Guard funds to be used in support of 
the program and ensures accountability of the funding. Funds for the 
program currently come several separate Service, Department of Defense 
and Department of State accounts. The Congress needs more visibility on 
the use of these funds and establishing a central account is critical 
to this endeavor and is similar to how the counterdrug program 
resources its activities.
  The capabilities and missions outlined in this legislation leverage 
the capabilities inherent in the National Guard and will strengthen our 
relations with allies and nations across the globe. The dual role of 
the National Guard provides them a unique opportunity to support 
Combatant Commander as well as an Ambassador's needs in a given 
country. I believe this legislation is necessary to codify current 
practices and enhance the program's positive impact worldwide.
  I thank Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota; Congressman Jim 
Bridenstine of Oklahoma and Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado for 
being original co-sponsors of this legislation. Our efforts highlight 
the bi-partisan support for SPP and need to enhance this critical 
capacity building tool. I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
pass this critical legislation.

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