The time to contact your U.S. Senators and Members of Congress about the threats to the force structure of the National Guard is right NOW! Because of time constraints, consider using e-mail or fax for your message.  The NGAUS "Write to Congress" feature is a great tool for contacting your elected officials via email. Just enter your zip code in the space provided and you will immediately be connected to a page that lists your representatives. Then, select the desired option, create your own message or use one of our preformatted letters that can also be edited to your own liking, fill in the “Sender Information” (required so the legislator knows you are a constituent), and select “Send Message.” It’s as simple as that! Your voice does make a difference, so take time to contact your representatives often and encourage your friends and family to do the same.  Click here for the NGAUS list of Pennsylvania members of Congress.

Take a look at the letters sent by Governor Rendell and General Wright before you write your message and review these web pages. It's best if each letter or message is a little different.  What's more your letter or message needs to be short, not more than 3 paragraphs or about 2/3 of a typewritten page. So don't put all these points in your letter or message: Just hit the ones that are most important to you. Your letter or message should make one of more of the following key points:

• Identify yourself as a member of PNGAS and the Pennsylvania National Guard (active or retired).
• Thank your member of Congress or Senator for past support for the National Guard.
• Point out that the force structure of the National Guard faces the greatest threat that it has in many years.
• Point out that Pennsylvania National Guard units will almost certainly be the targets for major cuts.
• These cuts are ill-conceived in a time of war.
• The National Guard is one of the great bargains in National Defense, taking less than 5% of the defense budget yet providing great capabilities.
• Dollar for dollar, the National Guard is the most cost effective force in the Armed Forces
• Nearly all units and the vast majority of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard have deployed since 9/11 to fight the Global War of Terror.
• Today's National Guard is ready, reliable and relevant.
• It's wrong to cut heavy combat brigades, which are well-trained and equipped with the armament that makes a difference.
• Combat service support units are not a good substitute for heavy brigades.
• A loss of force structure of 1,500 or more National Guard personnel will affect the ability of the Guard to respond to emergencies within and outside Pennsylvania.
• The year 2005 showed why we need the force structure.  With over 3,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members deployed in Iraq, we mobilized and deployed about 3,000 more to Louisiana in response to Hurricane Katrina.  Nationwide, the Guard, operating under the emergency management assistance compacts among the states, contributed 50,000 soldiers and airmen to Katrina and Rita response at the same time about 80,000 Guard members were deployed overseas!
• It is unacceptable to close armories, readiness centers and shops as part of force structure reductions.
• The reliance on the National Guard is at an all-time high. Since 9/11, nearly all of the soldiers in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard have supported the war on terror either at home or abroad. Abroad, we have taken the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. At home, our soldiers have protected the Commonwealth’s airports and nuclear power plants. Pennsylvania is a safer place because of our citizen soldiers.
• As a community-based force cuts would also impact the economy. The Pennsylvania National Guard is the state’s six largest employer. Each Guard member is worth $10,000 to his or her community.
• Some say the Army’s force cuts are driven by federal budget shortfalls. Why then would the most cost effective force be cut? For every active duty soldier you can have six members of the National Guard at the ready. The Army can man and equip 9 National Guard combat brigades for the cost of a single active Army brigade.

In your message, state your purpose for writing in the first sentence. For example:

"As your constituent and a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, I am writing to urge you to fight any cuts in the force structure of the National Guard."

Be courteous.

If appropriate, include personal information about why the issue matters to you to make your point.

Address only one issue in each email.

If you write a letter, use the following addressing conventions:

Addressing Members of Congress

To Your Senator:

The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator ______________:

To Your Representative:

The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman or Congresswoman ______________