July 30, 2020

Duckworth Leads Illinois Congressional Delegation in Calling for Title 32 Extension for National Guard

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter calling on President Trump to support Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request to extend Title 32 authorization for National Guard servicemembers so they can continue assisting Illinois in its COVID-19 response efforts. In the letter, the Members request authorization to retain up to 500 Illinois National Guard personnel in a Title 32 status at least through the end of the year. The current Title 32 authorization is set to expire August 21, 2020.

“The virus is resurging throughout different parts of the country and Illinois is experiencing similar trends,” the Members wrote. “The federal government needs to utilize every tool at their disposal to ensure proper support of local and state governments navigating these unprecedented times. In order to provide frontline responders with stability, we urge the administration to act as swiftly as possible supporting our National Guard personnel.”

The letter was signed by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), John Shimkus (R-IL-15), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Darin LaHood (R-IL-18).

A full copy of the letter is available below and online here.

Dear President Trump:

We write in support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s July 17, 2020 letter requesting to retain 500 Illinois National Guard personnel in a Title 32 status until at least December 31, 2020 or preferably, until the end of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Declaration for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The National Guard is a critical component of Illinois’ state-wide efforts to safely and methodically reopen the economy while combating the health, economic and societal challenges of COVID-19.  

The virus is resurging throughout different parts of the country and Illinois is experiencing similar trends. The federal government needs to utilize every tool at their disposal to ensure proper support of local and state governments navigating these unprecedented times. In order to provide frontline responders with stability, we urge the administration to act as swiftly as possible supporting our National Guard personnel.

The current end date for Title 32 authorization—August 21, 2020—is rapidly approaching. We urge you to swiftly support our governor’s request and grant an extension to the Title 32 orders and revise your June 2, 2020 “Memorandum on Governors’ Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19 and to Facilitate Economic Recovery” as soon as possible. The men and women of the National Guard combating this pandemic need your support. 

Thank you in advance for consideration of our request.

 

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