PNGAS State Legislative Priorities The Pennsylvania National Guard Associations (PNGAS) is the membership organization that represents the more than 20,000 Pennsylvanians who proudly serve their state and nation in the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard. Each year, at our Annual Conference, PNGAS identifies its federal and state legislative priorities for the coming year, and these priorities are refined and updated by the Board of Directors. The Pennsylvania National Guard and PNGAS appreciate the support of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Administration of Governor Edward G. Rendell as we work together to make America’s best National Guard even better. We believe both state and federal legislation needs to catch up to the way the Guard serves today, both at home and abroad. Legislative directions that were valid just a few years ago need to be adjusted in light of the realities of National Guard service today. The following bullets summarize PNGAS State Legislative Priorities: Support for State Funding for Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The Army has selected Pennsylvania’s National Guard as the home for the first – and only – Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the Reserve Components. Bringing the Stryker Brigade to Pennsylvania means that our National Guard will be equipped with and trained to use the most modern equipment. It means that the U.S. Government will spend about $1.5 billion in Pennsylvania, including 85 major military construction projects costing nearly $500 million in federal dollars. Attracting the SBCT to Pennsylvania requires a commitment by the Commonwealth to acquire lands for new facilities and make other capital and operational expenditures. The state capital budget passed in 2003 covers many of these projects. PNGAS urges the General Assembly and the Administration to continue their outstanding support for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team by releasing capital funds and making other state expenditures needed to carry out Pennsylvania’s commitment to this effort. Support for Fort Indiantown Gap. Fort Indiantown Gap is the home to the Pennsylvania National Guard. With over 17,000 acres and modern training facilities, it hosts units of the Army and Air National Guard as well as an Army Aviation flight facility and important training locations. The Commonwealth owns Fort Indiantown Gap and leases most of it to the U.S. Government. It is important for the state to acquire an additional 1,800 acres of State Game Lands, adjacent to the Gap’s northern boundary to provide an additional safety buffer for planned ranges. This can be done through an innovative three-way land transaction that will result in improvements to state game lands and a better Fort Indiantown Gap. PNGAS urges the General Assembly to support land acquisitions at Fort Indiantown Gap to enhance its status as a premier training site for the National Guard.  Governor Rendell has signed Capital Budget Project Itemization legislation (HB 1634), which includes authorization for acquisition of the additional buffer at Fort Indiantown Gap. Local Earned Income Tax. Under current law, the active duty military pay of Guard and Reserve members from Pennsylvania is exempt from local earned income taxes. However, military pay for inactive duty training (such as weekend drills and other duties) are still subject to local taxes. This system is a source of confusion and frustration for our soldiers and taxing authorities. The way we serve today means that inactive duty is just as important as active duty training to preparing for homeland security and other duties. PNGAS urges the General Assembly to amend the local tax enabling act to exempt all military pay earned by National Guard and Reserve personnel from local earned income taxes. Tax Credits for Employers. Today’s Guard and Reserve forces are mobilized more often and perform more critical duties than ever before. The chain of support for the Guard and Reserve includes soldiers and airmen, their families and their employers. Many employers go above and beyond the legal requirements to provide support for Guard and Reserve members who are mobilized and deployed. As deployments last longer, many employers have to hire temporary workers to fill in for deployed soldiers and airmen. PNGAS urges the state and federal governments to provide meaningful tax incentives to employers who provide special support for Guard and Reserve personnel and to encourage them to hire temporary workers to fill-in for Guard and Reserve personnel who are deployed. Names and Addresses of Deployed Soldiers/Airmen on Absentee Ballot Lists.  Current Pennsylvania procedures provide for public posting of the names and addresses of persons receiving absentee ballots.  When this list includes information on soldiers and airmen who are deployed away from home, it is a source of concern for our personnel and their families.  PNGAS supports state legislation to eliminate the requirement for public posting of names and home addresses of military personnel who receive absentee ballots Scholarships for Children of Guard Members Killed in Performance of Duty. Current Pennsylvania law provides that children of National Guard members killed in performance of duty – except for federal active duty – are eligible for tuition-free college scholarships at the State System of Higher Education schools. The exclusion of children of Guard personnel who lose their lives on federal active duty is unfair and inconsistent with the way the Guard serves today. Three Pennsylvania National Guard members have given their lives in Iraq and two of them have young children. Unless state law is changed, these children will be excluded from the possibility of ever receiving these scholarships. State Representative John Yudichak, together with many cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, has introduced House Bill 2688.   This bill amends state law to provide that children of Pennsylvania National Guard members killed in any authorized duty status (federal or state) qualify for educational gratuities at State System of Higher Education schools.   PNGAS urges the General Assembly take prompt action to adopt House Bill 2688. Support for Clarifying Veterans’ Preference for Guard and Reserve. Following guidance contained in a court decision, the Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission currently denies veterans preference to members of the Guard and Reserve who have not completed their initial enlistment or service obligation. This means that a young Guard soldier or airman who completes a tour of federal service in Iraq or Afghanistan and earns a DD Form 214 showing honorable service cannot qualify for state veterans’ preference. Legislation currently pending in the General Assembly corrects this inequity. PNGAS urges the General Assembly to pass and Governor Rendell to sign into law legislation to make it clear that Guard and Reserve soldiers and airmen who earn a DD Form 214 for federal service (other than initial active duty training) should qualify for veterans preference. The Pennsylvania Senate may consider House Bill 2055 (PN 3423) during the fall 2004 session. Support for Pennsylvania National Guard Federal Legislative Priorities. The Pennsylvania National Guard has identified important priorities for federal legislative action. These include: Replacement of Antiquated Facilities at Unit Training Equipment Site at Fort Indiantown Gap A-10 Aircraft Modernization Army Guard Field Ammunition Support Vehicles Army Guard Apache Helicopter  Army Guard Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems Air Guard Conversion of C130J to EC130J for 193rd SOWg Air Guard KC-135 Tanker Modernization (171st ARWg) Air Guard Expeditionary Medical Support Military Construction Projects including: Eastern Army Aviation Training Site (Fort Indiantown Gap) PNG Joint HQ (Fort Indiantown Gap) National Guard Readiness Centers (Armories) in Hermitage, York, and Waynesburg Army Guard Surface Maintenance Facility (Pittsburgh) Brigade Annual Training Complex (Phase 1, FIG) Composite Air Guard Support Complex (FIG) Willow Grove Air Reserve Station HQ 193rd Special Operations Wing Taxiway (Harrisburg IAP) Northeast Counterdrug Training Center