SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8705

By Senators von Reichbauer, Owen, Hayner, Gaspard and Johnson

     WHEREAS, The United States National Guard was established in 1636 and predates the founding of our Nation and the creation of the federal Army by more than 140 years; and

     WHEREAS, The National Guard is a uniquely American institution -- there is no comparable military body in the world; and

     WHEREAS, There are varying types of National Guard Units in all 50 states, THE U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, and

     WHEREAS, The Guard has participated in every American conflict from the Pequot War of 1637 through Vietnam, Panama, Grenada and Libya to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf; and

     WHEREAS, The National Guard offers a way "up and out of unhealthy environments" for many young Americans; and

     WHEREAS, The National Guard has historically been a key component of our National defense, providing a trained and capable military force able to provide rapid augmentation and reinforcement in time of call or mobilization; and

     WHEREAS, The mission of the National Guard is not only to help in the defense of our Nation, but also to provide life-saving emergency and relief services in times of crisis within our Nation's borders; and

     WHEREAS, The Guard is providing an average of 2,000 personnel each day in support of local, state and federal efforts to fight the war on illegal drugs; and

     WHEREAS; The Army has proposed cutting the Guard end strength by 136,000 personnel in the next four years; and

     WHEREAS, The actual cuts would reduce the Guard by a minimum of three combat divisions, a number of combat brigades and numerous combat support and combat service support units -- all of the type which helped the United States achieve speedy victory in Operation Desert Storm;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, That we find the proposed reduction in the strength of the National Guard is not in the best interest of this Nation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we believe the National Guard should retain a strength of 457,000 personnel at the end of Fiscal Year 1995; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army, President George Bush; the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Army; The National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. and Major General Gregory P. Barlow, Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8705,

adopted by the Senate June 30, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate