Since Sept. 11, 2001, about 3,000 of Iowa's 9,600 members of the National Guard have been called to active duty at some point during the last year. In the last decade, members of Iowa's National Guard have been deployed to Bosnia, trained in Germany and patrolled the no-fly zone in Iraq. The Iowa Air Guard has completed five 90-day missions in the last six years. A sixth mission is likely to begin yet this year.
In recent tours of duty closer to home, the Iowa Guard has helped demolish abandoned houses serving as methamphetamine labs in Keokuk, assisted with airport security in Des Moines and joined flood relief efforts in Dubuque.
While the National Guard may hold a low profile in the minds of many Iowans, the men and women who serve within its ranks provide a critical service to their community and their country.
Now the United States may need to use military force to disarm Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. If that is the case, you can bet more members of the National Guard and military reservists in Iowa will be tapped to serve alongside the full-time members of the armed forces.
In early October, 785 Iowa Guard members from units in Boone, Fort Dodge, Spencer, Algona, Estherville, Des Moines, and Sioux City were on active duty.
President Bush persuasively made the case that Saddam continues to flout the rule of law and refuses to comply with United Nations Resolutions he agreed to after the Gulf War in 1991. In October, Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use military force if it becomes necessary.
As the United States works to meet the national security challenges and terrorist threats emerging in the 21st century, it's clear the military strategy will rely on the National Guard to round out its fighting forces.
The war on terrorism encompasses a remarkable array of jurisdictions and authorities that requires better coordination among government agencies and law enforcement entities to meet the challenge. Responsibilities range from patrolling our borders, to securing ports of entry and avenues of commercial trade, snuffing out the underground revenue stream that finances terrorists, ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply, safeguarding our transportation infrastructure, and making sure local emergency response and health care delivery systems are up to the job.
To adequately address and administer issues of homeland security, Congress has been debating whether and how to create a new Homeland Security Department. Working to ensure the safety and security of the American people is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the federal government. While the United States, with the help from our allies, has made good progress in the last year, the war on terrorism is far from over.
The U.S. armed forces obviously provide the most pivotal defense against threats to our national security. And a key component of our post Cold War defense strategy includes the National Guard. It is essential that its training and equipment are not short-changed.
Since the last Gulf War, the National Guard has experienced a makeover of sorts and is outfitted with newer, more potent fighter planes than 12 years ago. Modernized tanks and equipment along with more sophisticated radar and communications gear keep the units prepared to join forces with U.S. soldiers, sailors and fighter pilots at any given time. It is vital that the National Guard and military reserves stay on the cutting edge because they play an integral role to fighting the war on terrorism, responding to local emergencies and joining official U.S. military actions abroad.
As Congress hammers out the spending plans for the next fiscal year, I have worked hard to make sure the Iowa National Guard gets its fair share of federal defense dollars. And I'm pleased our guard units stand to benefit from the $355 billion defense spending bill, including $10.5 million for the Iowa Air National Guard wing at Des Moines. This money would be used to upgrade F-16 fighter jets with new engines. In addition, $3.5 million has been reserved for the Guard's counterdrug operations to bolster its anti-drug training capabilities for state and local law enforcement.
In other defense spending, I worked successfully to funnel $22 million to the Iowa Air and Army National Guard facilities in the military construction appropriations bill. Almost $12 million will go to the Sioux Gateway Airport to upgrade an aircraft maintenance hangar, shops and operations facility. The Des Moines Airfield will receive $6 million to upgrade airfield facilities used by the National Guard including one apron, one weapons loading and unloading area, one taxiway and two new arresting cable locations. These federal dollars will help National Guard personnel to get their planes in the air swiftly and safely. The improved operations also mean reduced delays for both military and civilian aircraft. Lastly, the Iowa Army National Guard also will receive more than $4 million for the Readiness Center at Boone and I'm working to obtain funds for the Waterloo Readiness Center's construction needs.
It would be derelict for Congress to adjourn before finalizing spending decisions on matters of national defense and hammering out the details for a new Homeland Security Department. Now is not the time to play politics. The stakes are too high.