[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16315]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             SUPPORT FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I rise to express my strong support 
for the National Guard's counterdrug mission. I am concerned that 
proposed Department of Defense, DoD, funding for the National Guard's 
FY-2002 Counterdrug Program, State Plans, is not sufficient to ensure 
the continuance of this valuable service to law enforcement and local 
communities, and request that the funding be increased $40.7 million, 
from the President's $154.3 million request, to a total of $195 
million.
  The National Guard's Adjutant Generals, from the various States, have 
indicated to the National Guard Bureau, that without a minimum of $195 
million budgeted for this program, large personnel layoffs may occur. 
My staff has heard reports that one State may have to downsize by as 
much as one-third their personnel. Over ninety percent of the National 
Guard's counterdrug program costs are personnel-based, and as such, it 
is extremely sensitive to variations in funding, taking years to 
recover from any reduction in trained and experienced personnel. These 
reductions affect supported agencies, including the Customs Service, 
DEA, U.S. Border Patrol, FBI, HIDTAs, scores of State and local law 
enforcement agencies, and community based organizations.
  I am also concerned about the apparent lack of emphasis, and even 
distancing of itself, by the Department of Defense, on the counterdrug 
mission, especially in a year of discussions of increased DoD funding 
for other military mission areas. I sense this repeatedly in 
insufficient funding for the National Guard and other critical 
counterdrug mission areas, and believe this would be a poor policy 
decision and a poor indication of the nation's priorities.
  I urge my colleagues and the Department of Defense to give serious 
consideration to the National Guard program and its contribution to our 
national drug control strategy.

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