Press Releases

Washington, DC—Senator Jim Webb, chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the National Guard Empowerment amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act:

“After discussions with Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin, I have decided to forego a vote on my amendment that would require an independent study on the advisability of making the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  I decided not to seek a vote because the amendment introduced by Senator Leahy has received broad bipartisan support by 70 cosponsors, and I do not wish to jeopardize the prospects for the Senate completing its consideration of the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act in the very limited time available to us.  However, I continue to believe that it is unwise to add a member to the Joint Chiefs who is not a chief of a branch of the armed forces.”

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