Leahy: Guard Equipment Shortfall
Hampers Kansas Tornado Response

News Item:

(from an AP report on the Guard equipment issue in the aftermath of the tornado in Greensburg, Kansas --)

“In Kansas, the governor said the state's response was limited by the shifting of emergency equipment, such as tents, trucks and semitrailers, to the war in Iraq.

“’Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild,’ she said.

“Sharon Watson, a spokeswoman for the adjutant general's office, which manages state resources during emergencies, said the state has a shortage of heavy equipment transport trailers, pallet-sized loading systems, Humvees, dump trucks and other large equipment that would help move massive amount of debris.

“’We are never at 100 percent because we are allocated a certain amount from the National Guard Bureau. With the war, we are much shorter than we would be. We have about 40 percent of what is allocated,’ Watson said.”

WASHINGTON (May 7) -- The supplemental appropriations bill vetoed last week by President Bush included $1 billion added through the efforts of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) to purchase National Guard and Reserve equipment for use at home.  The funds would replace the trucks and heavy equipment that Guard units have been directed to leave in Iraq.  According to the Associated Press and other news outlets, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius reports that the lack of equipment for the Kansas National Guard is hampering relief efforts after Friday's tornado in Greensburg, Kansas. 

“Our country has put more and more missions on the backs of the men and women of the National Guard, sending them to places like Iraq and Afghanistan and to the Gulf States after Katrina,” Leahy said.  “They have done their part and more, with skill and valor and sacrifice.  But equipment the Guard needs for disasters here at home is being chewed up in the war in Iraq, and the Bush Administration is giving the Guard short shrift when it comes to replacing it.

“The White House gives a blank check to the Iraqi national guard, while stranding our own National Guard without the equipment they need for emergencies here,” Leahy continued.  “By now the Guard’s equipment shortfall runs to $24 billion for everything from Humvees and trucks to generators and communications equipment.”

Leahy said he will push to keep the Guard shortfall funds in any subsequent supplemental appropriations bill that reaches the President’s desk.

# # # # #

[Leahy today was interviewed for a segment on this issue that is scheduled to run Tuesday morning on NBC’s Today Show.

Leahy and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), the co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, took the lead in adding $1 billion for Guard equipment shortfalls to the recently vetoed supplemental appropriations bill.]