National Guard Bureau Office of Legislative Liaison (NGB-LL) Brigadier General Chris Finerty
NGB-LL Overview Agenda: Organization Interaction With Congress Congressional Staff and Key Actors Legislative Cycle Mission: Provide the Chief of the National Guard Bureau legislative policy advice, guidance, and recommendations on congressional issues affecting NGB. Provides liaison between the U.S. Congress and the NGB regarding National Guard plans, programs, budget, policies, and activities. 1
Congress Needs Information to Fulfill it s Duties President: Article II The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; Congress: Article I To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful Buildings;--And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
Our Partners Key Actors DoD OSD/Leg Affairs (OSD/LA) OSD/Comptroller (OSD/C) CJCS/Leg Affairs (OCJCS/LA) USA Leg Liaison (OCLL) USA Budget LN (SAFM/BUL) USAF Leg Liaison (SAF/LL) USAF Budget LN (SAF/FM) NGB (NGB-LL) 6 Associations NGA NGAUS AGAUS / GSLC EANGUS Council of Governors AUSA AFA ROA And other VSOs (VFW, DAV, etc) Congress Members Staff Committees Caucuses Constituents / tax payers Boards / Committees ARFPC RFPB Resources DA, DAF staff NGB staff States Governors Adjutants General Units Industry Businesses Lobbyists 5
NGB-LL Mission We do Serve as the single point of contact for NGB with Congress Develop and execute an annual congressional engagement strategy Conduct congressional outreach activities Inform Congress of NG requirements, priorities, objectives We don t Advocate for policies/programs outside President s Budget, or contrary to Administration position Portray ourselves as subject matter experts LOBBY Interpret the law Bottom line: Educate and Inform Timely and Accurate Responses Single Voice for CNGB to Congress
NGB-LL Manages All NGB Hill Engagement Manage information flow to and from the Hill Advise leadership on when and how to engage the Hill Prepare and escort NGB personnel to the Hill Provide situational awareness to NGB staff where needed 4
Key Committees Defense Authorization Committees SASC: Senate Armed Services Committee HASC: House Armed Services Committee Appropriations Defense Subcommittees SAC-D: Senate Appropriations Def. Subcommittee HAC-D: House Appropriations Def. Subcommittee Appropriations MILCON Committees: HAC-MILCON: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies SAC-MILCON: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Two Laws Drive Our Calendar NDAA National Defense Authorization Act Authorization, not cash Appropriations Act Money in large categories Generally not tied to specific programs
Current Events Appropriations CRs NGREA Lapse in appropriation 22 March 2018 NDAA 12.6 MILTECH conversion Pre and post-mobilization TRICARE benefits for 12304a and 12304b Requires a review and report on authorities for the employment, use, and status of NG and Reserve technicians. 16
NGB-LL Web Site http://www.nationalguard.mil/leadership/joint-staff/personal-staff/legislative-liaison 17
Questions 17