[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 355 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 355
Honoring the service of the National Guard and requesting consultation
by the Department of Defense with Congress and the chief executive
officers of the States prior to offering proposals to change the
National Guard force structure.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 26, 2006
Mr. Nelson of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Allen, Mr. Talent,
Mrs. Dole, Mr. DeWine, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Thune, Mr.
Isakson, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Dorgan,
Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Baucus, Mrs. Clinton, Mr.
Kohl, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Salazar, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Biden, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Feingold, Mr.
Menendez, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Rockefeller, Ms. Stabenow, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Obama, Mr. Carper,
Mr. Frist, Mr. Reid, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Martinez,
Mr. Dodd, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Smith, Mr. Roberts, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lott,
and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
February 7, 2006
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the service of the National Guard and requesting consultation
by the Department of Defense with Congress and the chief executive
officers of the States prior to offering proposals to change the
National Guard force structure.
Whereas the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the United States,
representing all 50 States, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia, have played an indispensable role
in the defense of our country;
Whereas during one phase of the Global War on Terrorism, Army National Guard
soldiers comprised nearly half of the United States combat forces in
Iraq;
Whereas National Guard personnel are currently deployed in Afghanistan, Bosnia,
Kosovo, and more than 40 other countries around the world;
Whereas 90 percent of the troops on the ground in Louisiana and Mississippi
responding to Hurricane Katrina were members of the National Guard;
Whereas while performing these critical missions, the National Guard continues
to experience significant equipment shortages, especially vehicle and
radio shortages;
Whereas members of the National Guard are not ``weekend warriors'', but citizen-
soldiers and airmen who serve full-time when their country needs them to
do so;
Whereas the National Guard is a resource shared by the chief executive officers
of the States and the President;
Whereas the National Guard is America's militia;
Whereas deployment to fight terrorism on two fronts overseas, while protecting
our homeland, has stretched the National Guard thin;
Whereas the future of the National Guard could be determined by the Quadrennial
Defense Review (QDR) currently underway;
Whereas the Army and Air Force could recommend changes in the force structure of
the National Guard;
Whereas reductions in force structure could impact numerous Army National Guard
armories and Air National Guard wings;
Whereas reductions in force structure combined with the lack of adequate
equipment for the National Guard threaten its capacity to discharge its
missions and its ability to respond in emergencies;
Whereas homeland defense is the most important mission of the Department of
Defense; and
Whereas the National Guard is the force best suited to defend the homeland and
therefore the element from which resources should not be cut: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the vital Federal and State missions of the
Army National Guard of the United States and the Air National
Guard of the United States, including support of ongoing
missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and homeland defense and
disaster assistance and relief efforts;
(2) recommends that the Department of Defense propose fully
funding the equipment needs of the National Guard;
(3) believes that the Department of Defense should, as soon
as possible, consult with the chief executive officers of the
States, as well as Congress, on any proposed changes to the
National Guard force structure;
(4) requests that any plan of the Department of Defense
regarding the National Guard force structure take into account
the role of the National Guard role in homeland defense and
other State missions as defined by the chief executive officers
of the States;
(5) requests that the Department of Defense prepare budget
projections that detail cost savings from any changes in
National Guard force structure, as well as projected costs in
the event large personnel increases are necessary to respond to
a national emergency; and
(6) requests that the Department of Defense assure Congress
and the chief executive officers of the States that potential
changes in the National Guard force structure will not impact
the safety and security of the United States people.
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