Letter to Senetor Warner, Senetor Levin, Rep. Hunter And Rep. Skelton
Senator John Warner Representative Duncan Hunter
Chairman Chairman
Senate Armed Services Committee House Armed Services Committee
228 Russell Senate Office Building 2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Senator Carl Levin Representative Ike Skelton
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Senate Armed Services Committee House Armed Services Committee
228 Russell Senate Office Building 2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
September 19, 2006
Dear Chairmen Warner and Hunter and Ranking Members Levin and Skelton:
We are writing to ask for your support in addressing two issues critical to our National Guard in the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act.
First, we oppose the inclusion of provisions to give the President greater authority to take control of the National Guard during a federally declared disaster. The National Guard has a successful record of working directly with states to prepare for and respond to catastrophic events, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and fires. The key to this success has been a clear chain of command under each state's governor that allows the Guard to efficiently and effectively deploy its resources. Federal usurpation of control over the Guard would create uncertainty over the command structure precisely when clear leadership is most needed, undermining states' ability to prepare for and respond to disasters.
Federal control would change but not enhance the military's overall role in disaster response. Ample authority already exists in both federal law and Defense Department doctrine to allow both National Guard and active-duty forces to participate in disaster response activities. This legislation would simply wrest control of the operations out of the hands of the officials best situated to lead a response tailored to state and local needs: state governors.
Fifty-one governors, including North Carolina Governor Michael Easley, have registered their opposition to the federal control provisions, and North Carolina National Guard leaders adamantly oppose them as well. We agree that these provisions would hinder the Guard's ability to carry out its dual mission and urge you to remove them from the final bill.
Second, we want to register our strong support for Senate-passed provisions that would enhance the voice of the National Guard in our military's leadership hierarchy.
As you know, Sections 932-33 of the Senate bill would promote the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to a four-star general position, require the Deputy Commander position at U.S. Northern Command to be filled by a National Guard officer, and instruct the National Guard Bureau to establish more direct lines of communication with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, states and federal agencies. We believe these provisions are critical to adapting the military leadership structure to reflect the expanding role of the National Guard in our nation's defense, and we urge you to retain them in the conference agreement.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the National Guard has been called upon at an unprecedented rate to defend our nation and respond to challenging domestic emergencies. The Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act offers Congress key opportunities to recognize its new and integral role in our national security. We urge your strong support for the National Guard as you negotiate the final legislation.
Sincerely,
David Price Brad Miller
G.K. Butterfield Mike McIntyre
Bob Etheridge Sue Myrick
Robin Hayes Melvin Watt
Walter Jones
http://price.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=50458