Glenn Thompson: “This week I had the honor of meeting with the Pennsylvania National Guard Association, which is solely dedicated to more…”

“This week I had the honor of meeting with the Pennsylvania National Guard Association, which is solely dedicated to more than 19,000 Guard members and more than 67,000 Guard veterans and their families. The National Guard is an essential element of the United States military. Founded in 1636 as a citizen force organized to protect families and towns from hostile attacks, today's National Guard soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while maintaining their military training, always ready to defend the American way of life in the event of an emergency. The mission of the Pennsylvania National Guard Association is to ensure the Pennsylvania National Guard is fully funded, manned, equipped, and trained to perform their Federal and State missions. That also includes ensuring that members and veterans have the benefits that they have earned. Mr. Speaker, the Pennsylvania National Guard mostly hails from the Commonwealth, and they are prepared to serve the Nation at a moment's notice. In fact, Pennsylvania Guard personnel provided extraordinary support to areas affected by the disastrous 2018 hurricane season. They offered aviation support, restored lines of communication, and lent a helping hand to their fellow Americans in their time of need. More than 1,000 Guard members assisted in domestic operations, including snowstorms and floods. In 2018, Guard members were deployed throughout the world in support of mobile operations.…”