Toomey Co-Sponsors National Guard Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey co-sponsored the bipartisan National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act (S. 1025) today.

Sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), this important legislation builds upon earlier reforms proposed by the National Guard Caucus of which Sen. Toomey is a member. It will empower the 450,000 member National Guard, by giving the Guard a seat at the Pentagon’s budget and policymaking tables. The legislation seeks to do this in several ways:

· It will make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to make sure military leaders consider Guard forces when making recommendations to the Secretary of Defense.

· It will reestablish the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the three star level, giving the National Guard Bureau greater clout within the Pentagon.

· It will direct the Administrator of FEMA to coordinate with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in establishing planning standards and guidelines for states.

· It will require the Department of Defense to separately list equipment procurement requests for the National Guard in the President’s budget request.

· It will clarify the relationship between the National Guard Bureau and the U.S. Northern and Pacific Command and increase the Guard representation in the leadership of U.S. Northern Command.

“The National Guard is a vital part of our national defense, and our Guardsmen and women deserve to have the tools and flexibility they need to adequately defend our homeland and respond to emergency situations.” Sen. Toomey said. The National Guard Empowerment Act will modernize our outdated military bureaucracy and make sure the National Guard has a say in our country’s important military decisions. I am proud to serve as a member of the National Guard Caucus and proud to co-sponsor this important bipartisan legislation.”

“The National Guard protects our citizens by being at the right place at the right time and putting forth our best effort, but this can only happen when we have the support we need,” said Joel Mutschler, Chairman of the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations. “This particular bill ensures the Joint Chiefs of Staff is fully aware of the capabilities and cost efficiency that the Guard brings to the table. We are grateful for Sen. Toomey’s co-sponsorship of this very important piece of legislation and for his continued support of the Pennsylvania National Guard.”



“This is indeed an historic achievement for the National Guard,” said Brigadier General (Pennsylvania retired) Bob Coyne, Treasurer of the 28th Infantry Division Association. “This Act is a clear statement that the Guard is an equal among the elements of the Armed Forces. On behalf of the 28th Infantry Division Association, I want to thank Senator Toomey for his support!”

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