[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H1998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THANKING THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD FOR ITS WORK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this week I had the honor 
of meeting with the Pennsylvania National Guard Association, which is 
solely dedicated to more than 19,000 Guard members and more than 67,000 
Guard veterans and their families.
  The National Guard is an essential element of the United States 
military. Founded in 1636 as a citizen force organized to protect 
families and towns from hostile attacks, today's National Guard 
soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while maintaining their 
military training, always ready to defend the American way of life in 
the event of an emergency.
  The mission of the Pennsylvania National Guard Association is to 
ensure the Pennsylvania National Guard is fully funded, manned, 
equipped, and trained to perform their Federal and State missions. That 
also includes ensuring that members and veterans have the benefits that 
they have earned.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard mostly hails from the 
Commonwealth, and they are prepared to serve the Nation at a moment's 
notice. In fact, Pennsylvania Guard personnel provided extraordinary 
support to areas affected by the disastrous 2018 hurricane season. They 
offered aviation support, restored lines of communication, and lent a 
helping hand to their fellow Americans in their time of need.
  More than 1,000 Guard members assisted in domestic operations, 
including snowstorms and floods. In 2018, Guard members were deployed 
throughout the world in support of mobile operations. They also 
participated in training events at home and abroad to enhance 
readiness.
  As part of its Federal mission, approximately 1,000 Pennsylvania 
National Guard personnel deployed throughout the world in 2018 in 
support of mobile operations, including Operation Spartan Shield, 
Operation Freedom Sentinel, and missions in support of U.S. Air Force's 
Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and NATO.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to visit members of the Guard's 
28th Infantry Division over the Thanksgiving holiday. I led a codel 
last November to Kuwait, where we met with members of the 28th Infantry 
Division who were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
  The servicemembers that we visited, while serving honorably overseas, 
were also serving in one of the Army's most historic units. The 28th 
Infantry Division is the oldest continuous serving division in the 
United States Army. In 1918, it earned its nickname ``Iron Division,'' 
fighting during World War I, and 100 years later, the same division 
continues to defend freedom and liberty around the world.
  Since the attacks of 9/11, more than 35,000 Pennsylvania National 
Guard members have deployed overseas. In fact, Pennsylvania's Fort 
Indiantown Gap is the busiest Army National Guard training center in 
the Nation.
  The Pennsylvania National Guard is also home to the 56th Brigade 
Combat Team, which is one of the Army's nine Stryker Brigade Combat 
Teams. This is a team that my son Logan belonged to when he was in the 
National Guard before he went to Active Duty. It was the only National 
Guard Stryker brigade in the United States Army.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard continues to serve the 
Commonwealth and the Nation with pride and distinction. I look forward 
to its continued success. I thank all of our citizen soldiers, past and 
present, for their service.

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