Reps. Kay Granger, R-Texas, Steve Womack, R-Ark., and Keith Rothfus, R-Pa., are circulating a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Armed Services Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee encouraging them to halt the transfer of AH-64 Apaches from the Army National Guard. The letter also encourages the committee leaders to stop reductions in Army National Guard end strength and full-time support until FY2017.
The FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act established the National Commission on the Future of the Army to make recommendations on the balance between the active and reserve components as well as weigh in on the Army’s controversial Aviation Restructure Initiative. The commission is set to report its recommendations in February 2016. It is vital that Congress have time to review the commission’s findings before moving forward with potentially damaging and irreversible personnel reductions and equipment cuts to the Army National Guard.
The House and Senate have passed their respective FY2016 defense authorization bills. Committee leaders in both chambers have expressed hope that conferees can work quickly to resolve the differences between the two legislative packages and produce a final conference report before the August recess.
LANGEA urges you to contact your representatives and ask them to sign this letter that encourages committee leadership to prevent these changes to the National Guard until Congress is able to review the commission’s report.
LANGEA Point of Contact:
Trent Taylor
legislative@langea.org
