Bill Text: NJ AR120 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass legislation empowering and enhancing National Guard.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR120 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR120-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass legislation empowering and enhancing National Guard.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass legislation to empower and enhance the role of the National Guard.
Whereas, Members of the National Guard have seen active duty service in unprecedented numbers during the past 11 years in the fight against terrorism in both Iraq and Afghanistan, providing 40 percent to 50 percent of the United States Armed Forces on the ground; and
Whereas, The rolls of both those who have died in these battles and those who have sustained grievous physical and mental wounds include thousands of members of the National Guard, yet the leaders of the National Guard have no say in final decisions in terms of manpower and funding that affects the National Guard troops; and
Whereas, The "National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011," Senate Bill 1025, enhances the national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, the enhancement of the functions of the National Guard Bureau, and its improvement of Federal-State military coordination in response to domestic emergencies; and
Whereas, This legislation provides that the National Guard's senior officer would have full membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the rank of senior National Guard officers would be elevated, and that funding for the National Guard would be stabilized; and
Whereas, "The National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011" establishes a framework to formalize the working relationship between the States, the U.S. Northern Command, and other combatant commands, and also allocates federal military assets during domestic missions; and
Whereas, It is time to give voice to those members of the National Guard who are serving on the front lines to defend this country from those who desire our destruction; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges Congress to pass the "National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011," to empower and enhance the role of the National Guard.
2. Copies of this Assembly resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges Congress to pass the "National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011." This federal legislation authorizes the additional appropriation of funds for Fiscal Year 2012 for personnel, training, operation and maintenance of the National Guard. The purpose of this federal legislation is to enhance the national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the functions of the National Guard, and improvement of Federal-State military coordination in response to domestic emergencies. The legislation also provides for the membership of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stabilizes funding for National Guard domestic missions, provides more transparency in equipment procurement, and requires the Pentagon to assess the cost savings and feasibility of shifting more responsibility for the nation's defense to the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
