In order to bring you the best possible user experience, this site uses Javascript. If you are seeing this message, it is likely that the Javascript option in your browser is disabled. For optimal viewing of this site, please ensure that Javascript is enabled for your browser.
 
Letter Index:
All Letters
Archive
by Topic
Executive Committee
Economic Development & Commerce Committee
Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee
Health and Human Services Committee
Natural Resources Committee
Letter
Printprintable version

Executive Committee Home

 

February 3, 2006

The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to express our opposition to force reductions in the Army and Air National Guard being considered by the Department of Defense. As you know, our National Guard members have provided nearly 50 percent of the combat forces in Iraq, and the bulk of the U.S. personnel in the Balkans and the Sinai Peninsula. In addition, they comprised about 90 percent of the troops on the ground in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. These men and women are demonstrating the value of the Total Force Policy that is a major part of our nation's defense strategy.

As Commanders-in-Chief, we appreciate the need to reorganize, restructure and modernize the military to meet new threats and emergencies. We also understand the need for cost-effective means to achieve these goals. We believe that the National Guard best meets these objectives by providing a well trained and ready force able to support both foreign and domestic missions on short notice and at reduced cost.

Fulfilling the mission of the National Guard at home and abroad requires both manpower and equipment. Unfortunately when our National Guard men and women return from being deployed in foreign theatres, much of their equipment remains behind. Attention must be paid to re-equipping National Guard units with the resources they need to carry out their homeland security and domestic disaster duties, while also continuing to fine-tune their wartime mission competencies.

Governors are extremely proud of the role the National Guard plays in protecting this nation and its citizens. The National Guard is a cost-effective, capable combat force in the war on terror and an essential state partner in responding to domestic disasters and emergencies. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the Department of Defense reconsider any proposed force reductions in the Guard and work with Governors to re-equip our returning units.

Sincerely,

 

Governor Mike Huckabee
Arkansas

 

Governor Janet Napolitano
Arizona

 

Governor Dirk Kempthorne
Idaho
Lead Governor on the National Guard

 

Governor Michael F. Easley
North Carolina
Lead Governor on the National Guard

 

Governor Bob Riley
Alabama

 

Governor Frank H. Murkowski
Alaska

 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
California

 

Governor Bill Owens
Colorado

 

Governor M. Jodi Rell
Connecticut

 

Governor Ruth Ann Minner
Delaware

 

Governor Jeb Bush
Florida

 

Governor Sonny Perdue
Georgia

 

Governor Linda Lingle
Hawaii

 

Governor Rod Blagojevich
Illinois

 

Governor Mitch Daniels
Indiana

 

Governor Thomas J. Vilsack
Iowa

 

Governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kansas

 

Governor Ernie Fletcher
Kentucky

 

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Louisiana

 

Governor John Baldacci
Maine

 

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Maryland

 

Governor Mitt Romney
Massachusetts

 

Governor Jennifer Granholm
Michigan

 

Governor Tim Pawlenty
Minnesota

 

Governor Haley Barbour
Mississippi

 

Governor Matt Blunt
Missouri

 

Governor Brian Schweitzer
Montana

 

Governor Dave Heineman
Nebraska

 

Governor Kenny C. Guinn
Nevada

 

Governor John Lynch
New Hampshire

 

Governor Jon S. Corzine
New Jersey

 

Governor Bill Richardson
New Mexico

 

Governor George E. Pataki
New York

 

Governor John Hoeven
North Dakota

 

Governor Bob Taft
Ohio

 

Governor Brad Henry
Oklahoma

 

Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski
Oregon

 

Governor Edward G. Rendell
Pennsylvania

 

Governor Anibal Acevedo-Vilá
Puerto Rico

 

Governor Donald L. Carcieri
Rhode Island

 

Governor Mark Sanford
South Carolina

 

Governor M. Michael Rounds
South Dakota

 

Governor Phil Bredesen
Tennessee

 

Governor Rick Perry
Texas

 

Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
Utah

 

Governor Jim Douglas
Vermont

 

Governor Timothy M. Kaine
Virginia

 

Governor Charles W. Turnbull
Virgin Islands

 

Governor Christine O. Gregoire
Washington

 

Governor Joe Manchin III
West Virginia

 

Governor Jim Doyle
Wisconsin

 

Governor David Freudenthal
Wyoming

 

 

National Governors Association, 444 N. Capitol St., Suite 267, Washington, D.C. 20001-1512 | (202) 624-5300
Copyright © 2004 National Governors Association. All rights reserved.