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Committee advances 'Defend the Guard' bill limiting overseas combat use of Georgia National Guard
Summary
Senate Bill 62 — dubbed the Defend the Guard Act — cleared the Interstate Cooperation committee by unanimous voice vote. The bill would prohibit deploying the Georgia National Guard into overseas combat unless Congress has declared war; the committee heard the measure and voted to advance it for scheduling.
The Interstate Cooperation committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 62, called the Defend the Guard Act, which would restrict the Georgia National Guard from being placed into overseas combat without a congressional declaration of war.
The chair summarized the bill: “it says that the Georgia National Guard cannot be put into a combat situation overseas unless Congress has declared war,” and added that the measure still allows the governor to control the Guard and permits overseas deployments for training. The chair also said the bill has support from the secretary of defense, per the transcript.
A senator asked how the bill originated; the sponsor said the effort is part of a broader movement led by several states called Bring the Troops Home, aimed at ensuring National Guard members are not involuntarily placed into combat overseas without a formal declaration of war by Congress. The sponsor described Guard service as largely domestic and training-focused in nature.
A motion to advance the bill was made and seconded during the hearing; the committee approved the motion by unanimous voice vote. The chair said scheduling for further consideration would be arranged offline.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally or a named mover in the transcript excerpt; the chair announced the outcome as unanimous. Members recorded no amendments on the bill during this hearing.
