Proposed Federal Legislation Related to the VDF

[twoolman]

Latest News... The following legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress on January 6, 2009. Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself and Mrs. MYRICK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 206

To amend title 32, United States Code, to improve the readiness of State defense forces and to increase military coordination for homeland security between the States and the Department of Defense.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `State Defense Force Improvement Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Domestic threats to national security and the increased use of National Guard forces for out-of-State deployments greatly increase the potential for service by members of State defense forces established under section 109© of title 32, United States Code.
(2) The efficacy of State defense forces is impeded by lack of clarity in the Federal regulations concerning those forces, particularly in defining levels of coordination and cooperation between those forces and the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
(3) The State defense forces suffer from lack of standardized military training, arms, equipment, support, and coordination with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and other Federal agencies as a result of real and perceived Federal regulatory impediments.

SEC. 3. RECOGNITION OF AND SUPPORT FOR STATE DEFENSE FORCES.

(a) Recognition and Support- Section 109 of title 32, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (l) and (m), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection © the following new subsections:

`(d) Recognition- Congress hereby recognizes forces established under subsection © as an integral military component of the homeland security effort of the United States, while reaffirming that those forces remain entirely State regulated, organized, and equipped and recognizing that those forces will be used for homeland security purposes exclusively at the local level and in accordance with State law.

`(e) Assistance by Department of Defense- (1) The Secretary of Defense may coordinate homeland security efforts with, and provide assistance to, a defense force established under subsection © to the extent such assistance is requested by a State or by a force established under subsection © and subject to the provisions of this section.