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1 (2007)

handle is hein.cbhear/fdsysafrf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: AUT-ENTICATED US. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION GP DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2007 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met at 10:33 a.m., in room SD-138, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Inouye (chairman) pre- siding. Present: Senators Inouye, Leahy, Dorgan, Durbin, Mikulski, Murray, Stevens, Domenici, and Bond. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NATIONAL GUARD STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL H STEVEN BLUM, CHIEF STATEMENT OF SENATOR DANIEL K. INOUYE Senator INOUYE. This morning the subcommittee meets to receive testimony on the fiscal year 2008 budget request for the National Guard and Reserve components. I welcome today's witnesses from the National Guard, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Steven Blum; Director of the Army National Guard, General Clyde Vaughn; Director of the Air National Guard, General Craig McKin- ley; and from the Reserve, Chief of the Army Reserve, General Jack Stultz; and Chief of the Naval Reserve, Admiral John Cotton; Commander of the Marine Forces Reserve, General John Bergman; and Chief of the Air Force Reserve, General John Bradley. Gentlemen, as you know, the role of the National Guard and Re- serve has changed dramatically over the past few years. Currently, we have thousands of guardsmen and reservists deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom already in their second tours. I just met an airman who I believe was on his third tour, com- pleted his third tour and an Army man on his fourth tour. The forces have been fully integrated into operations there and have proven to be essential to the mission. We are going to make certain that you have the resources you need to train and equip these valu- able service men and women. We are pleased to see that recruitment has improved although I am concerned that the Army and Navy Reserves are still not ful- filling their recruiting missions. We hope to hear today about what you are all doing to continue to attract quality recruits. (1)