[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 56 (Monday, April 1, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E380-E381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 1, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing another outstanding 
achievement by the District of Columbia National Guard. On February 1, 
2019 Burkina Faso became the 76th nation to join the State Partnership 
Program--a Department of Defense joint security cooperation program 
administered by the National Guard. The program is executed by the 
individual states, territories and the District of Columbia. I am proud 
to inform this body that the D.C. National Guard and the Burkina Faso 
Armed Forces will now be establishing a military-to-military 
relationship focused on security cooperation.
  The State Partnership Program provides an equally beneficial 
relationship between armed forces of partnering U.S. National Guard 
states, territories, the District of Columbia and foreign nations. It 
is administered by the National Guard Bureau and guided by State 
Department foreign policy goals. These partnerships support Combatant 
Command campaign objectives, strengthen alliances, provide cost-
effective subject matter expert engagements and enhance defense 
security.
  The District of Columbia National Guard's partnership with Burkina 
Faso will be in addition to the current partnership between the D.C. 
National Guard and Jamaica. Since 1999, the District of Columbia 
National Guard has had a successful and productive partnership with 
Jamaica. In 2018, the D.C. National Guard and the Jamaica Defense 
Forces conducted 17 key subject matter expert engagements including 
work on drug-trafficking, military police response and domestic 
security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response, and 
preparation for medical and dental personnel, among other activities.
  The Burkina Faso state partnership would not have happened without 
the leadership of Major General William J. Walker, the Commanding 
General of the D.C. National Guard, Brigadier General Aaron R. Dean II, 
the Adjutant General D.C. National Guard, Justin Som, Burkina Faso's 
Secretary General of the Minister of Defense, Andrew R. Young, the U.S. 
Ambassador to Burkina Faso Brigadier, General Moses Miningou, the Chief 
of General Staff for the National Armed Forces of Burkina Faso, and 
Brigadier General Steven deMilliano, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Director 
for Strategy, Engagement and Programs Directorate at United States 
Africa Command. Many others contributed as well from the D.C. National 
Guard, Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau and State 
Department.
  As the D.C. National Guard embarks on this new mission, I look 
forward to supporting them every step of the way. I trust through their 
dedication and sacrifices, they will help strengthen shared national 
security goals while fostering a partnership of peace, prosperity, and 
freedom for the people of Burkina Faso and the region.

[[Page E381]]

  

                          ____________________