WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said the contributions of the National Guard in providing security for the United States clearly shows that the Guard needs and deserves a greater voice in decisions made by the Pentagon leadership. Grassley is co-sponsoring an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2010 that would help improve the Guard's ability to serve as military first responders and utilize the Guard's expertise in domestic response.
"Our National Guard members are going above and beyond the call of duty. They are a crucial part of the War on Terror while they continue to deal with their domestic obligations. They deserve a seat at the table with all the branches of the military," Grassley said.
Grassley is a member of the Senate National Guard Caucus. He was a co-sponsor of similar legislation in the last Congress. He is also the lead co-sponsor of a separate provision already included in the Defense Authorization Act that benefits the Iowa National Guard. This provision would ensure that U.S. service members receive all of the pay earned while serving in combat. Hundreds of members of the Iowa National Guard were unnecessarily cut out of earned benefits because of a bureaucratic snafu that the provision attempts to correct.
The National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2010 authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.
Here is information about the amendment introduced to the Defense authorization bill.
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff -- Makes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Guard Bureau Duties -- Formally gives the National Guard Bureau the function of working with the states to identify equipment gaps for the purpose of providing military assistance to civil authorities.
Vice Chief -- Recreates the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the rank of Lieutenant General. The person holding the position cannot come from the same Armed Service as the officer holding the position of National Guard Bureau Chief.
Governor's Tactical Control -- Directs the Department of Defense to establish procedures for the nation's Governors to have tactical control over the military forces, including Title 10 active forces, operating in their state during an emergency.
Authorization for National Guard Domestic Operations -- Authorizes $360.6 million in funding for the National Guard to carry out domestic operations in support of civil authorities: $25.5 million for personnel and operations for Continuity of Operations, Continuity of Government and Consequence Management training and operations; $300 million in defense-wide operations for National Guard domestic operations of the National Guard under Title 32, United States Code; and $35 million in personnel for full-time staffing of Joint Force Headquarters State.
Authorities Related to United States Northern Command -- States that Northern Command and Pacific Command are the commands responsible for providing military assistance for civil authorities, and, to carry out that responsibility, these commands must assist the states in employing the National Guard and facilitate the deployment of Title 10 forces to supplement and support the Guard, whether operating in State Active Duty or under Title 32 United State Code. Northern Command and Pacific Command must complete a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Guard Bureau on their operational relationship within 180 days of enactment.
National Guard Command Positions – Keeps a National Guard officer as Commander of Air Force North, while Guard officers shall become the Commander Army North.