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Dear Representative Roblan / Speaker Hunt
As an Oregonian, I urge you to take the steps necessary so that Oregon will ensure that
its National Guard will only be deployed overseas for federal service based on valid Congressional
enactments. Please be sure HJM 5-1, the Guard Home Memorial, gets a work session and a vote
before the Legislature ends its term!
Thousands of Oregonians wrote, called, emailed, and
marched in favor of keeping the Guard from deployment to Iraq. We understand that
the current deployment may not be able to be stopped, but we think that, if amended, HJM 5 will
send Congress with the same message that was in HB 2556-1--that a Governor should not release
the Guard to federal service abroad if there is no valid authorization.
HB 2556 enjoyed bipartisan support. On May 21, the
Medford Mail Tribune gave "cheers" to Representatives Dennis Richardson, a Republican, and
Chip Shields, a Democrat, for "working to give
the state more say in the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to wars
overseas." Mayor Kitty Piercy of Eugene wrote letters on May 26 to Eugene's legislative
representatives calling for a work session and vote on HB 2556.
Legislation or resolutions to de-federalize the Guard has been introduced in Vermont, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and several other states. Oregon needs its National Guard to respond
to wildfires and natural disasters, and for search and rescue missions. We have a chance to be a
national leader with this legislation. Please let me know when HJM 5-1 has been scheduled for a
work session.
Sincerely,
(your name)
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