Press Room

APRIL 30 IS CLOSING DATE FOR INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES

 Following Closing, Information on Commission’s Work Available on Web Site

The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves submitted its final report to Congress and the Secretary of Defense on January 31, 2008. The submission of this report completed the requirements assigned to the Commission in its authorizing statute, Public Law 108-375 (as amended by Public Law 109-163), the Ronald Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. This statute also specified the Commission’s closing date as 90 days following the delivery of the final report.

The independent Commission’s work was informed by 17 days of public hearings involving 115 witnesses; 52 Commission meetings; more than 850 interviews with officials and subject matter experts; numerous site visits, forums, and panel discussions; and the analysis of thousands of documents supplied at the Commission’s request.

“We extend our sincere thanks to all who contributed to this more than two-year effort, and to DOD and Congress for quick action on our March 1, 2007, report,” said Commission Chairman Arnold L. Punaro. “We are encouraged by the positive responses to our many recommendations in our 2008 report that we have received from Congress, DOD, and the stakeholders who have worked with us. As the Commission closes out, we are optimistic that additional critical changes to the National Guard and Reserves, both short- and long-term, are going to be made.”

The complete documentation of the Commission’s work—including the three reports published since its official launch in March 2006, transcripts of all hearings, all press statements and releases, biographical information on Commissioners, and other resources—will be available for at least two years on the Commission’s Web site at www.cngr.gov. After April 30, Chairman Punaro can be contacted at (703) 676-5026.

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