In the wake of a report from the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves describing the as seriously under-prepared to respond to chemical, biological or nuclear strikes, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) reiterated the need to pass legislation calling for the redeployment of National Guard members and essential equipment from .
In May 2007, Perlmutter introduced HR 2539 which requires all guard members currently serving in , along with essential equipment, to be redeployed within 90 days of the bill’s enactment. Currently the bill is awaiting a hearing.
Under the Constitution, the role of the National Guard is to protect the public from invasion or insurrection, which in recent years has been construed to entail border security and responses to natural disaster or terrorist attacks.
“This report highlights the precarious situation our country is in regarding our readiness to respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters,” said Perlmutter. Our Guardsmen and women are needed here at home, and my bill is a responsible plan to ensure that our nation is as fully prepared as possible to deal with natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Our Guard forces have more than fulfilled their duty overseas, and it is past time we bring them back home so they can focus on their original mission. Considering the numerous threats we face here at home, this is an issue that can no longer be overlooked.”
The report, which was released last Thursday, stated that in addition to the lack of preparation, the National Guard is also $48 billion short on equipment and would be unable to respond to any sort of catastrophic attack. The President’s budget, which was released yesterday, only provides $980 million for the National Guard.
In March, a similar report found an estimated 88% of National Guard units are unprepared for domestic missions.
“As this war gets closer to entering its fifth-year, now is the time for us to set some important national priorities,” Perlmutter said. “It is no longer possible for the National Guard to try and protect two countries at once. A lack of proper planning for the war in shouldn’t be an excuse to let our own country continue to remain vulnerable. We can’t afford to wait for another devastating attack or disaster.”
