Patrick Leahy: “Today we are introducing the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008. The military…”

“Today we are introducing the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008. The military is still not structured properly to respond to the domestic emergencies that we know will come again. This legislation would take us tangible steps forward in correcting that. Our bill would sharpen the Defense Department's focus on helping the National Guard respond to domestic emergencies. This legislation is a new phase in our bipartisan and bicameral drive to empower the Guard for successfully meeting the challenges that our States and the Nation are asking the Guard to meet. It would clear away bureaucratic cobwebs in the Defense Department's organizational structure to improve decision making on homeland defense issues that involve the Guard.”