Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 374rd anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1740) recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 374th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 1740 introduced by our colleague from Ohio (Mr. Latta) which recognizes the 374th birthday of the Nation's military first responder, our National Guard. I looked at that, too, and I said, ``374? How could that be?''

Well, on December 13, 2010, we will celebrate the enormous contributions that our Nation's citizen soldiers and airmen have contributed to our national defense for over 300 years. Our forefathers relied on its citizen soldiers to protect this young Nation. Today we continue to rely on our citizen soldiers to protect the values and inalienable rights that Americans enjoy today.

Our men and women in the National Guard not only volunteer to serve overseas in our national defense, they are also an integral part of our local communities, providing assistance, support, and protection to their neighbors and loved ones in cases of natural and manmade disasters within the United States.

The history of the National Guard began back during the very earliest days of our Nation. The colonists adopted the English militia system which required all males between the ages of 16 and 60 to bear arms and contribute to the defense of their communities. In those early days, the militia provided the first line of defense in our Nation and it continues to do so to this very day.

Throughout our Nation's conflicts, the National Guard has been an integral part of our country's national defense. During World War I, the National Guard made up 40 percent of America's combat divisions. The National Defense Act of 1933 established the National Guard as a reserve component of the Army. And in 1947 the National Security Act established the air

component of the National Guard as a reserve component of the Air Force.

More than 300,000 members of the National Guard participated in World War II. And over 180,000 members of the National Guard participated in the Korean War, and nearly 23,000 deployed in support of the Vietnam War. More than 50,000 members of the National Guard were deployed in the Gulf States in support of Hurricane Katrina. Today, almost a quarter of a million members of the National Guard have mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

Today we are here to express our appreciation to those who served in the National Guard and their families, who are also making a contribution in defense of this Nation. We are here to express our gratitude and respect for those in the National Guard who have given their lives in defense of our Nation. Our sympathy and prayers are with their families and loved ones. Their sacrifice is noted and will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1740 and join us as we wish America's National Guard a happy 374th birthday.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for offering this resolution.

I think every Member on this floor understands the critical importance of the National Guard in their own communities and in their State, and it's certainly appropriate that we recognize the 374th birthday of the National Guard. You had me on that one. I didn't know it was 374 until this moment. But I do know the history of my own State of California and the critical importance of the National Guard not only in all of the traumas that occur in my State, but also overseas and the wars.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 1740, which recognizes and honors the National Guard on the occasion of its 374th anniversary. I would also like to thank Congressman Latta for offering this resolution and for his recognition of this important aspect of our Armed Forces.

The National Guard is America's oldest military component dating back to 1636 when colonial militias--comprised of ordinary citizens--would put aside their occupations to defend their fellow countrymen and towns from hostile attacks. From their service in the Revolutionary War where they stood their ground during the opening shots at Lexington Green and Concord Bridge to most recently valiantly fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Guard has participated in every major American conflict. All Guardsmen are combat-trained, and while abroad they serve in combat missions, build schools and hospitals, and train local peacekeepers.

In 1824, the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, New York Artillery became the first military organization in the United States to adopt the title ``National Guard.'' During the Mexican War, more than 70 percent of the total manpower effort was from citizen-soldiers, and in the Spanish- American War, over 160,000 National Guardsmen volunteered for active duty on behalf of their country. As evidenced throughout history, the Guard has always been there in our time of need. Guard troops comprise more than 40 percent of the manpower for the U.S. in World War I, 300,000 Guardsmen participated in World War II, 183,000 in the Korean War, 23,000 in the Vietnam War, and 70,000 in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Finally, since the September 11, 2001 attacks, hundreds of thousands of Guardsmen have and continue to serve in combating terrorism at home and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, while the National Guard has certainly had an impressive track record of keeping our nation safe at home and throughout the world, they also support our countrymen when they are endangered by storms, floods, fires, and other disasters. Every state in the United States utilizes the National Guard for disaster assistance, and when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf of Mexico, over 50,000 Guardsmen were deployed to aid in clean-up and restoration efforts.

I am particularly honored to have the Georgia National Guard headquartered in Georgia's 11th Congressional District, which I have proudly represented for 8 years. In 2005, the Naval Air Station-Atlanta was closed by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission, and on September 29, 2009, the Georgia National Guard took control of that facility adjacent to Dobbins Air Force Base. The Georgia Guardsmen have always served with integrity and have been there for our State during times of need.

I would also like to congratulate Major General William Nesbitt--who has a decorated career in the National Guard--for being reappointed as the Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard by my good friend and former colleague in the House of Representatives, Governor-Elect Nathan Deal.

Mr. Speaker, it is truly a privilege to recognize the 374 years of service of the National Guard on behalf of our country, but we must take a moment to honor the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield keeping the citizens of this great Nation safe. I want to say a gracious thank you to these brave individuals for their service and thank their families for bearing the great cost of a loved one so that America can be a better place. We will never forget these heroes, and we will always honor and admire their sacrifice.

The National Guard has and always will be an icon of the United States Armed Services, and I am very proud of the job these men and women continue to do at home and around the world.

Madam Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows:

November 29, 2010

Rollcall vote 581, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass--H.R. 5877, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building''--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 582, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--H. Res. 771, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day--I would have voted ``aye.''

November 30, 2010

Rollcall vote 583, On Agreeing to the Resolution--H. Res. 1736, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4783) to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Chile, and to extend the period from which such contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti may be accelerated--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 584, On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments--H.R. 4783, To accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Chile, and to extend the period from which such contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti may be accelerated--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 585, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--H. Res. 1585, Honoring and recognizing the exemplary service and sacrifice of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing, the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, and the 615th Contingency Response Wing civilians and families serving at Travis Air Force Base, California--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 586, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--H. Res. 1740, Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 374th anniversary--I would have voted ``aye.''

December 1, 2010

Rollcall vote 587, On Ordering the Previous Question--H. Res. 1742, Providing for consideration of S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 588, On Agreeing to the Resolution--H. Res. 1742, Providing for consideration of S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 589, On Agreeing to the Resolution--H. Res. 1741, Providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 101, Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011, and for other purposes--I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall vote 590, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--H. Con. Res. 323, Supporting the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust survivors in the United States are able to live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 591, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--H. Res. 1735, Condemning North Korea in the strongest terms for its unprovoked military attack against South Korea on November 23, 2010--I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 592, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--H. Res. 1430, Honoring and saluting golf legend Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez for his commitment to Latino youth programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute--I would have voted ``aye.''

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my House Resolution 1740, a resolution honoring the National Guard on their 374th anniversary. And as the gentleman alluded to, 374 years long predates this Nation.

The National Guard origins date to December 13, 1636, when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ordered existing militias to be organized into three regiments. Since then, the National Guard has fought in every major war and conflict. From the ``shot heard round the world'' on April 19, 1775, on Lexington Green and later that day that running battle that occurred at Concord Bridge, to the men and women who have stood strong and fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, the National Guard and its citizen soldiers have been there for us no matter what, always ready, always there.

Going back to that day on April 19, 1775, it was one of these days that we have to remember, it was April 18, 1775, that Paul Revere and two others left Boston to alert the countryside not that the Red Coats were out but that the regulars were out. As Revere Road became known later as Battle Road from Boston across to Lexington and Concord, he was alerting the countryside, and the countryside was alarmed and the people awoke. And those were the early National Guard or the militia that responded.

They were the ones that stood up on April 19, 1775, on Lexington Green to the command to stand down from the British. No one knows who fired that fateful first shot, but that was the beginning of the Revolutionary War. And it was the militia--now our National Guard--that was there for us and is still there for us today.

The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces in the United States. The National Guard's number one priority is the security and defense of our homeland at home and abroad. Americans have relied on their National Guard for more than three and a half centuries, long before the establishment of these United States.

I want to thank all past and present members of the National Guard for their service in response to the attacks on our homeland on September 11, 2001, and their continuing role in homeland security and military operations.

In today's world, it is essential that we honor and support all of our servicemembers who have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedoms and liberties that we cherish so dearly in these United States. We need to support and provide our men and women in the National Guard and all of the Armed Forces with enough resources to ensure their readiness and success.

As the National Guard's official song goes, ``Defending Freedom, protecting dreams, this is the spirit of what it means to me. For my God and my home that I love: I Guard America, Guarding America, America.''

I urge passage of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, my friend and colleague from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1740, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of the members of the Army and Air National Guard on the occasion of the 374th anniversary of the National Guard. I want to commend Representative Robert Latta of Ohio for sponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, America is such a dynamic, forward moving, ever changing Nation that few institutions can survive for long unless they repeatedly prove their worth and are capable of changing to meet new challenges.

For more than 300 years, the National Guard has repeatedly demonstrated its worth and value to this Nation in the crises of peace and war. The courage and commitment and sacrifices of National Guard members have been an integral part of every war this Nation has fought.

These citizen soldiers most recently have accepted an entirely new role in our national security and enthusiastically transformed themselves and their units from a ready reserve to an operational reserve where repeated deployments to combat have become the norm, not the exception.

While providing significant combat power to support ongoing wars, the Guard has remained true to its mission to support the individual States in times of natural disasters. With this dual requirement to support not only the Nation but also the people of the States from which they come, the National Guard is indispensable to the well-being, safety, and security of all Americans.

This is why it is therefore right and proper that we recognize the National Guard for 374 years of outstanding service, and I urge all Members to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.