National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Chairman, this amendment wrongly targets one of our best recruiting practices of the National Guard.

Motor sports sponsorship programs have helped the Guard add 400,000 new citizen soldiers since it was begun in 2007, many of whom were sworn in right at the track. Why would we want to cut something that's working?

Every season, the National Guard emblem is seen by millions on the hood of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s car, one of the most popular drivers during the last 10 years.

Since the National Guard is prohibited from advertising on broadcast television, motor sports sponsorships are one of the few ways the Guard can market to a national audience while still interacting with local communities.

This amendment takes a strong program proven valuable to our military readiness and arbitrarily cuts it for the sake of political posturing. This amendment does not save any money. It does not address any government excess or impropriety. It unnecessarily attacks our National Guard, and it shackles their best opportunity to recruit and retain the very best for national security.

As in the pSelect Some Optionsrevious two defense authorization acts, I urge Members to hold strong and continue to oppose this amendment.

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Mr. COLLINS of New York. I rise tonight to speak on behalf of an amendment to be offered later. This amendment provides a sense of Congress to the Secretary of Defense and urges my colleagues to support this amendment, which will help maintain a strong National Guard and Reserve.

We've seen, time and again, whether it's Superstorm Sandy or other national catastrophes, the National Guard and the Reserve that have come to the Nation and helped support us in a time of need. September 11 it was the members of the Air National Guard that flew jets over New York City and this Nation's Capitol.

Many members of both the Guard and Reserve have fought and died for this country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Time and again we have called on them to support us, and this proposed amendment just urges the Secretary of Defense to make sure that we send the message that he should make every effort to ensure our military Reserve and National Guard forces are fully manned and fully funded to help the United States fulfill its longstanding commitment to the unyielding defense of this country.

Mr. Chairman, the brave men and women who fill the ranks of both the National Guard and Reserve deserve nothing else.

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