The Tennnessee Defend the Guard Act is currently in the House Public Service Subcommittee (with a hearing and vote scheduled on March 5) and the Senate State and Local Government Committee, where the bills must pass by a majority vote to move forward in the legislative process.
Residents of the state should take the following steps to help the bills advance.
Step 1: Contact the Committee Chairs
Reach out to House Subcommittee Chair Iris Rudder at 615.741.8695. Thank her for scheduling a hearing for HB129 and express your support for moving the bill forward.
Reach out to Senate Committee Chair Richard Briggs at 615.741.1766. Let him know you’d like him to schedule a hearing for SB156 and express your support for moving the bill forward.
Step 2: Contact the Committee Members
Call each member of the Committees. Let them know you support HB129/SB156 and encourage them to vote in favor.
Be firm, but courteous and professional.
House Subcommittee Members:
Jeff Burkhart – 615.741.6804
Rick Eldridge – 615.741.6877
Jake McCalmon – 615.741.4389
Gabby Salinas – 615.741.1920
Todd Warner – 615.741.4170
Senate Committee Members:
Vice Chair: Page Walley – 615.741.2368
Vice Chair: Tom Hatcher – 615.741.0981
Todd Gardenhire – 615.741.6682
Ed Jackson – 615.741.1810
Sara Kyle – 615.741.4167
Adam Lowe – 615.741.1946
Kerry Roberts – 615.741.4499
Jeff Yarbro – 615.741.3291
Step 3: Contact your own state senator and representative
Urge them each to co-sponsor and support HB129/SB156 as well. A phone call is far more effective than an email.
You can find their contact information here:
https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/
Step 4: Spread the word
Share this Action Alert widely by email and post on social media.
What is Defend the Guard?
The Defend the Guard Act is a critical piece of legislation aimed at ensuring that the state’s National Guard is not deployed into active duty combat unless Congress passes an “official declaration of war” or takes an official action pursuant to Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the Constitution for the United States.
Articles: Defend the Guard
Articles: War Powers
- War Powers: The True History of James Madison, the Constitution and the War of 1812
- War Powers: The True History of Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates
- War Powers: The True History of George Washington and the Indian Tribes
- War Powers: The True History of John Adams and the Quasi-War with France