Defend the Vermont National Guard

To the Editor:
Our members of the Vermont State Legislature should support Defend the Guard Legislation. Defend the Guard Legislation would prohibit the deployment of the Vermont National Guard to foreign combat in the absence of congressional authorization. Our legislators’ support will protect the specific power outlined in the Constitution, stating that Congress shall have the sole authority to declare war. 
It is imperative that Congress fulfills their duty to prevent the president from unilaterally engaging the United States in war without a congressional declaration. The Vermont National Guard should not be involved in endless undeclared wars.
If we must engage in war, it must be with the full support of the American people. 
Instead of fueling endless war, we can redirect Vermont’s National Guard toward tackling floods, pandemics, and other humanitarian challenges. Action Corps and other organizations believe this is a critical moment to reclaim our National Guard and assert our state’s power.
Deb Pierotti
Brattleboro