The West Defend the Guard Act HB2591 has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, while SB468 has been assigned to the Senate Military Committee. Both committees must schedule a hearing in order for the bills to have an opportunity to pass by a majority vote and 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 Committee Chair James Robert Akers II at 304.340.3340. Let him know you’d like him to schedule a hearing for HB2591 and express your support for moving the bill forward.
Reach out to Senate Committee Chair Ryan W. Weld at 304.357.7984. Let him know you’d like him to schedule a hearing for SB468 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 the Defend the Guard Act and encourage them to vote in favor.
Be firm, but courteous and professional.
House Committee HB2591
Vice Chair: Jordan Maynor – 304.340.3164
Shawn Fluharty – 304.340.3270
Evan Hansen – 304.340.3125
Jim Butler – 304.340.3199
Dana Ferrell – 304.340.3194
Bill Flanigan – 304.340.3127
Joe Funkhouser – 304.340.3130
Scot C. Heckert – 304.340.3394
Rick Hillenbrand – 304.340.3176
Josh Holstein – 304.340.3184
Mike Hornby – 304.340.3138
D. Rolland Jennings – 304.340.3396
David Kelly – 304.340.3226
Laura Kimble – 304.340.3102
Larry D. Kump – 304.340.3122
Phil Mallow – 304.340.3331
Keith Marple – 304.340.3141
Carl Martin – 304.340.3167
Chris Phillips – 304.340.3192
Bill Ridenour – 304.340.3248
Carl Roop – 304.340.3180
Andy Shamblin – 304.340.3392
Bryan Ward – 304.340.3154
Mark Zatezalo – 304.340.3101
Senate Committee Members:
Vice Chair: Scott Allen Fuller – 304.357.7937
T. Kevan Bartlett – 304.357.7841
Charles H. Clements – 304.357.7827
Vince Deeds – 304.357.7959
Amy N. Grady – 304.357.7855
Eric J. Tarr – 304.357.7901
Jay Taylor – 304.357.7914
Tom Willis – 304.357.7867
Michael A. Woelfel – 304.357.7956
Step 3: Contact your own state senator and representative
Urge them each to co-sponsor and support HB2591 and SB468 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