Legilative Alert: National Guard

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

April 27, 2006

The Issue: National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006

Immediate Action Required: Contact your members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to voice your support for the subject issue.

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On Wednesday, 26 April 2006 Representative Tom Davis of Virginia introduced the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 to the U. S. House of Representatives (H.R. 5200). This is the House version of the original Bill introduced by Senator’s Bond and Leahy (S. 2658).

To help ensure that the National Guard is properly represented at the highest levels of the DoD and provided with the appropriate representation, manpower, training and equipment for future missions both home and abroad, the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 will:

Establish the National Guard Bureau (NGB) as a joint activity of the DoD.

Elevate the Chief of the National Guard Bureau billet from Lieutenant General to General (4 Star).

Task the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to serve as an advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Provide a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.


Require that the Deputy Commander of NORTHCOM be a National Guard officer, and much more.

Both NGAUS and the Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) support this legislation.

On May 2, 2006 the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) will conduct a full mark-up of the FY07 National Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5122). During this session, HR 5200 will be offered as an amendment to that bill.

It is vitally important that you contact your member of the HASC immediately to voice your support for this landmark legislation that will clearly empower and enhance the readiness of the National Guard. Pre formatted letters to assist this effort can be found on our Write to Congress feature on the NGAUS web page www.ngaus.org.

Members in bold type are especially important to our success; effected states are asked to make special efforts to make contact with these members and ask them to co-sponsor the legislation.

The following is a list of the members of the HASC:

Duncan Hunter, R-CA, Ike Skelton, D-MO
Curt Weldon, R-PA, John M. Spratt, Jr., D-SC
Joel Hefley, R-CO, Solomon P. Ortiz, D-TX
Jim Saxton, R-NJ, Lane Evans, D-IL
John M. McHugh, R-NY / Gene Taylor, D-MS
Terry Everett, R-AL, Neil Abercrombie, D-HI
Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-MD, Martin T. Meehan, D-MA
Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, R-CA, Silvestre Reyes, D-TX
Mac Thornberry, R-TX, Victor Snyder, D-AR
John N. Hostettler, R-IN, Adam Smith, D-WA
Walter B. Jones, R-NC, Loretta Sanchez, D-CA
Jim Ryun R-KS, Mike McIntyre, D-NC
Jim Gibbons, R-NV, Ellen Tauscher, D-CA
Ken Calvert, R-CA, Robert Brady, D-PA
Robin Hayes, R- NC, Robert E. Andrews, D-NJ
Rod Simmons, R-CT, Susan Davis, D-CA
Jo Ann Davis, R-VA, James Langevin, D-RI
W. Todd Akin, R-MO, Steve Israel, D-NY
J. Randy Forbes, R-VA, Jim Cooper, D-TN
Joe Wilson, R-SC, Rick Larsen, D-WA
Jeff Miller, R-FL, Jim Marshall, D-GA
Frank LoBiondo, R-NJ, Kendrick Meek, D-FL
Michael R. Turner, R-OH, Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam
Jeb Bradley, R-NH, Timothy J. Ryan, D-OH
Joe Kline, R-MN, Mark Udall, D-CO
Candice S. Miller, R-MI, G.K. Butterfield, D-NC
Mike D. Rogers, R-AL, Cynthia McKinney, D-GA
Trent Franks, R-AZ, David Daniel Boren, D-OK
Bill Shuster, R-PA
Thelma Drake, R-VA
Joe Schwarz, R-MI
Cathy McMorris, R-WA
K. Michael Conaway, R-TX
Geoff Davis, R-KY

PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION: By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS web page www.ngaus.org you can e-mail your elected officials immediately and send a pre written message or edit it as you desire for the issue described above. This is the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to the President or members of Congress.

Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to "Write to Congress" as well.

For more in-depth information and background visit our web site at www.ngaus.org

Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Scott Hommel, NGAUS Deputy Legislative Director at: 202-454-5307 or email: scott.hommel@ngaus.org.

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