U.S. Congressman Colin Allred (D-Dallas) is calling for a needs assessment from the Dept. of Defense to ensure that the National Guard in Texas has the resources necessary to do its job.
Allred said a review of the impact of population growth in Texas and how it relates to the National Guard has gotten bipartisan support.
“The Texas Guard has exemplified leadership time and time again this past year, stepping up to serve in times of great need,” Allred said in a tweet. “As Texas grows, we must do all we can to ensure they have the support they need to keep serving our state. I’m working to do just that.”
The legislators are also asking the Biden administration to assist with making sure the National Guard in Texas can adequately protect lives and property given rapid growth in the state.
“From playing a key role in our state’s efforts to combat the coronavirus to getting Texans to warming centers during February’s winter storm, and even deploying to Washington to defend our Capitol,” Allred said on his website. “They (National Guard) have stepped up to serve in times of great need. As Texas continues to grow, we have to do all we can to make sure our National Guard Bureau has the support they need to continue serving our state at all levels.”
According to a report in the Stars and Stripes, lawmakers in several states such as Texas, Florida and California are calling for larger National Guard forces after extreme weather events last year, including hurricanes and wildfires, put a strain on the numbers of troops responding.
Last April, the National Guard Bureau released a report to the U.S. Congress on the impacts of population growth. Legislators asked U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to review recommendations in the report and ensure that National Guard troops have the necessary tools to do their jobs.
The report may be viewed at nationalguard.mil.