NG Empowerment: Legislative Alert #06-18

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

Action Required: Contact your Congressmen and Senators and Urge their support during Conference Negotiations.
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Although USNORTHCOM is the combatant command with the ultimate responsibility for defending our homeland it is the National Guard, located in over 3000 communities across our country that will answer the call. The Guard’s unique Constitutional responsibility to respond quickly to natural disasters or terrorist attacks logically leads to the conclusion that the Guard deserves a seat at the table as Deputy Commander of USNORTHCOM, and in the Pentagon as a four-star Chief of NGB when decisions are being made concerning force structure and defense budgets. The Guard is the governor’s first choice for assistance to first responders.

The Senate passed an amendment to The National Defense Authorization Act (S.2766) that would incorporate features of the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act (S.2658) that provides significant leverage for the National Guard to carry out their critical homeland security mission. Since the House of Representatives did not pass their version of this important legislation, it will now be resolved during conference negotiations.

While Congress is in recess during the month of August, you will have an opportunity to visit personally with your elected officials to voice your concerns. However, if a personal visit isn’t possible, we urge you to phone, fax, or email as soon as possible. It is imperative that we act NOW by doing the following:

Priority #1: Contact your Congressional representatives and urge him/her to recede to the Senate language of the National Defense and National Guard Enhancement Act of 2006 during conference negotiations. In addition, ask them to contact Reps Davis or Taylor to become a co-sponsor of HR.5200, the original House legislation.

Priority #2: Contact your two Senators and urge their continued support for the intent of the National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 (S.2658) during conference negotiations with the House.

A list of sponsors to HR 5200 and S 2658 is attached. If your member is listed, be sure to thank them.

HR 5200 Cosponsors: 77 Total (44 Democrats, 32 Republicans, 1 Independent)

Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) Ford, H. (D-Tenn.) Osborne (R-Neb.), Alexander, R. (R-La.) Gerlach (R-Pa.) Otter (R-Idaho), Andrews, R. (D-N.J.) Gibbons, J. (R-Nev.) Oxley (R-Ohio), Bass (R-N.H.) Goode (R-Va.) Pastor (D-Ariz.), Bishop, R. (R-Utah) Gordon, B. (D-Tenn.) Porter (R-Nev.), Bishop, T. (D-N.Y.) Hayes (R-N.C.) Rahall (D-W.Va.), Blumenauer (D-Ore.) Herseth (D-S.D.) Rehberg (R-Mont.), Boswell (D-Iowa) Holden (D-Pa.) Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), Bradley (R-N.H.) Hooley (D-Ore.) Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Butterfield (D-N.C.) Jackson, J. (D-Ill.) Ryan, T. (D-Ohio), Calvert (R-Calif.) Jackson-Lee, S. (D-Texas) Sanders (I-Vt.), Cardin (D-Md.) Jefferson (D-La.) Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Case (D-Hawaii) Kelly (R-N.Y.) Shays (R-Conn.), Christensen (D-Virgin Is.) LaHood (R-Ill.) Simpson (R-Idaho), Clay (D-Mo.) Larsen, R. (D-Wash.) Smith, A. (D-Wash.), Cubin (R-Wyo.) Latham (R-Iowa) Souder (R-Ind.), Davis, D. (D-Ill.) Lewis, Jerry (R-Calif.) Strickland (D-Ohio), Davis, L. (D-Tenn.) LoBiondo (R-N.J.) Tanner (D-Tenn.), DeFazio (D-Ore.) Matheson (D-Utah) Taylor, G. (D-Miss.), Delahunt (D-Mass.) McDermott (D-Wash.) Terry (R-Neb.), Doyle (D-Pa.) McIntyre (D-N.C.) Tiberi (R-Ohio), Duncan (R-Tenn.) Meehan (D-Mass.) Udall, M. (D-Colo.), Emanuel (D-Ill.) Miller, C. (R-Mich.) Upton (R-Mich.), Emerson, J. (R-Mo.) Miller, B. (D-N.C.) Wilson, J. (R-S.C.), Etheridge (D-N.C.) Murtha (D-Pa.) Wu (D-Ore.), Evans, L. (D-Ill.) Myrick (R-N.C.)

S 2658 Cosponsors: 38 Total (25 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 1 Independent)

Akaka (D-Hawaii) Feinstein (D-Calif.) Murray (D-Wash.), Baucus, M. (D-Mont.) Grassley (R-Iowa) Nelson, Ben (D-Neb.), Bennett, R. (R-Utah) Gregg (R-N.H.) Pryor (D-Ark.), Biden (D-Del.) Harkin (D-Iowa) Reid, H. (D-Nev.), Boxer (D-Calif.) Hatch (R-Utah) Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Burns, C. (R-Mont.) Inouye (D-Hawaii) Salazar, K. (D-Colo.), Cantwell (D-Wash.) Jeffords (I-Vt.) Smith, G. (R-Ore.), Carper (D-Del.) Johnson, Tim (D-S.D.) Snowe (R-Maine), Collins, S. (R-Maine) Landrieu (D-La.) Stabenow (D-Mich.), DeMint (R-S.C.) Lautenberg (D-N.J.) Stevens (R-Alaska), DeWine (R-Ohio) Leahy (D-Vt.), Sununu (R-N.H.), Dodd (D-Conn.) Menendez (D-N.J.) Wyden (D-Ore.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Mikulski (D-Md.)

By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS web page www.ngaus.org you can email 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.

Category: NGAUS.