National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008

To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the national defense through empowerment of the National Guard, enhancement of the functions of the National Guard Bureau, and improvement of Federal-State military coordination in domestic emergency response, and for other purposes.

3/13/2008--Introduced.
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008 - Adds the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Requires the Chief to:
(1) identify gaps between federal and state military capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and
(2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for military assistance to civil authorities to address such gaps. Requires annual defense budget documents to specify separate amounts for training and equipment for the National Guard for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations. Redesignates the:
(1) Director and Deputy Director of the Army National Guard as the Vice Chief and Deputy Vice Chief of the Army National Guard; and
(2) Director and Deputy Director of the Air National Guard as the Vice Chief and Deputy Vice Chief of the Air National Guard. Treats Vice Chief service as an adjutant general as joint duty experience for assignment or promotion purposes. States that the United States Northern Command and the United States Pacific Command shall be the combatant commands principally responsible for the military support of civil authorities in the United States. Requires the Commander of each Command and the Chief to enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the operational relationships, and individual roles and responsibilities, during responses to domestic emergencies among such Commands and the National Guard Bureau. Directs the Secretary to assure that tactical control of the Armed Forces on duty within a state or possession is vested in the governor thereof when such forces are engaged in emergency response activities. Requires the officer serving as:
(1) Commander of Army North Command to be an officer in the Army National Guard; and
(2) Commander of Air Force North Command to be an officer in the Air National Guard. Expresses the sense of Congress that, in assigning officers to such positions, the President should afford a preference to officers who have served as a state adjutant general. Requires at least one of each of three specified commander and deputy commander joint task force positions to be an officer in the Army or Air National Guard.

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Sponsor

• Rep. Thomas Davis [R, VA-11]
• and 22 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
  • Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
  • Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
  • Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
  • Rep. Howard Coble [R, NC-6]
  • Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
  • Rep. Philip English [R, PA-3]
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
  • Rep. Barton Gordon [D, TN-6]
  • Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Robert Latta [R, OH-5]
  • Rep. Sue Myrick [R, NC-9]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19]
  • Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
  • Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1]
  • Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
  • Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
  • Rep. Heath Shuler [D, NC-11]
  • Rep. Michael Simpson [R, ID-2]
  • Rep. Gene Taylor [D, MS-4]
  close

Committees

• House Armed Services
• 1 more
  • House Armed Services
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.5603

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 13, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Apr 10, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.
• Mar 13, 2008: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• Introduced on Mar 13, 2008.

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Related Bills:

• S.2760

Related Issue Areas:

• State politics and government
• State and local government
• Officer personnel
• National Guard
• 13 more
• Military training
• Military promotions
• Military command and control
• Military civic action
• Governors
• Emergency management
• Defense economics
• Defense budgets
• Budgets
• Army
• Armed forces
• Air force
• Defense policy

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

March 14, 2008 Guard advocates seek more changes

The House bill is HR 5603. The four lawmakers so far have been successful in getting their National Guard bills attached to the annual defense budget rather ...

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Source: ArmyTimes.com, VA

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