National Guard Priorities Letter to Congress

The Honorable Carl Levin
Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable James Inhofe
Senator
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Buck McKeon
Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Adam Smith
Representative
Committee on Armed Services
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Levin, Senator Inhofe, Chairman McKeon and Representative Smith:

After a decade of war and in the face of continuing fiscal challenges, strategic choices must be made regarding the organization of our military forces. On behalf of the nation’s governors, we encourage you to fully utilize the National Guard’s cost-effectiveness and high level of skill to maintain critical capabilities for the federal government and states while reducing the overall size and costs of our nation’s military.

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the National Guard has evolved from a strategic reserve into a highly capable operational force. The men and women of the Guard have regularly served overseas, supported border security efforts and responded to domestic emergencies including complex natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The Guard has developed specialized capabilities such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear responses and has more recently begun to develop innovative cybersecurity capabilities that could fulfill identified needs of states and the federal government.

As commanders-in-chief, we appreciate the need to reorganize, restructure and modernize the military to meet new threats and economic realities. We also understand the need for cost-effective means to achieve these goals. Given these realities, the National Guard is the best choice to meet our nation’s needs.

We urge you to ensure the Guard maintains its current level of capability and continues to serve as an integral partner to both governors and the federal government.

Sincerely,

Governor Martin O’Malley
Chair, Health & Homeland Security Committee
Co-Chair, Council of Governors

Governor Brian Sandoval
Vice Chair
Health & Homeland Security Committee

Governor Terry E. Branstad
Co-Chair
Council of Governors

cc: The Honorable Chuck Hagel, Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense
General Frank Grass, Chief, National Guard Bureau