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​Becky Lourey on Appropriate National Guard Use

President Bush is expected to announce tonight that he is deploying state National Guard troops to supplement the Border Patrol along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border.

“Although this questionable deployment does not directly impact the Minnesota National Guard, it does raise yet another concern about appropriate state militia use. Beyond any doubt National Guard troops have the talent to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in its duties, but the federal government alone should take responsibility for securing our national borders,” Lourey said. “As Minnesotans, we appreciate the tremendous personal and financial sacrifices made by our National Guard and their families as they have willingly served repeated tours of duty overseas. Serving on the Senate’s veterans affairs policy committee and attending forums in our communities, I have listened closely to the testimony regarding our returning Guardsmen and women. It is my duty to speak out on their behalf, communicating to federal authorities that the National Guard’s role should be reserved to responding to real and immediate threats to state and federal security.”

Senator Becky Lourey is endorsed for Governor by the DFL Veterans Caucus (2006).