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Senate Resolution Urges Reconsideration of Guard
Cuts
PA Could Lose 2 Brigades,
4,000 Soldiers Under Proposal
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate today adopted a Resolution introduced by Senator Don White calling on the
President, Congress and Department of Defense officials to reconsider a proposed
cut back in National Guard staffing across the nation.
 Senator White's resolution
urges the federal officials to rescind a plan announced on January 18 by the
Secretary of The Army to eliminate six combat brigades from the Army National
Guard and reduce its troop strength by 17,000.
Pennsylvania is home to two
of these brigades. A heavy brigade headquartered in Scranton and another in
Washington, Pa. One plan would also remove a heavy combat brigade and portions
of an aviation brigade stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap. This proposal could
mean the Commonwealth would lose some 4,000 soldiers.
“It is hard to believe that
today, when American forces are serving around the world and our military
resources are stretched thin, the Secretary of the Army would even consider such
a drastic move as scaling back our National Guard component,” said Senator
White, Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
Committee, in a speech prior to the Senate vote on his Resolution.
“If anything, we should be working to enhance
and increase the ranks of our citizens-soldiers at every possibility,” Senator
White continued.
 
D. White
Robbins
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