Senate Resolution 12 - Introduced PAG LIN SENATE RESOLUTION NO. BY CHELGREN, BEHN, GUTH, SINCLAIR, ZAUN, SCHULTZ, SHIPLEY, and KRAAYENBRINK 1 1 A Resolution urging Congress and the President of 1 2 the United States to enact new legislation on the 1 3 federalization of national guard forces. 1 4 WHEREAS, state militias, now known as the national 1 5 guard, have been a bulwark of this nation's military 1 6 defense system since 1776; and 1 7 WHEREAS, the Iowa National Guard is the direct 1 8 descendant of the state militias that served our 1 9 country through the Civil War, with the Iowa Militia 1 10 being designated in 1877 as the Iowa National 1 11 Guard; and 1 12 WHEREAS, in times of peace the members of the 1 13 Iowa National Guard have long provided relief and 1 14 assistance during floods, tornadoes, blizzards, and 1 15 civil disturbances; and 1 16 WHEREAS, in times of war, from Pea Ridge to Iraq and 1 17 Afghanistan, the soldiers of Iowa's National Guard, 1 18 all volunteers, have stepped forward in defense of our 1 19 state and nation; and 1 20 WHEREAS, now in the 21st century America relies on 1 21 the citizen=soldiers of the guard like never before, 1 22 from providing cybersecurity to piloting Predator and 1 23 Reaper unmanned drones, while still providing the 1 24 traditional role as "boots on the ground"; and 1 25 WHEREAS, over the past 10 years, national guard 1 26 units have completed multiple deployments and upgraded 1 27 both skills and equipment; NOW THEREFORE, 2 1 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Iowa Senate 2 2 respectfully urges the Congress of the United States 2 3 to enact legislation to require prior congressional 2 4 approval of a request made by the President of the 2 5 United States for the federalization of national guard 2 6 forces for a period of more than 180 days; and 2 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an official copy of 2 8 this resolution be transmitted to the President of 2 9 the United States, the President and Secretary of the 2 10 United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the 2 11 United States House of Representatives, and to members 2 12 of the Iowa congressional delegation. LSB 2277XS (3) 86 aw/rj