Dear Friends,

I am incredibly humbled that the National Guard Association of the United States, has selected me as a recipient of the Harry S. Truman Award for Distinguished Service in Support of National Defense. The Truman Award is the National Guard Association’s highest honor and is given in recognition of serious and sustained contributions to the defense and security of the United States.

The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the responsibility to provide for the common defense. I take this responsibility very seriously. When I was first elected to Congress, I served on the House Armed Services Committee until I moved up to the House Appropriations Committee where I continued to fight to provide for our national security.

I have served as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and now I am the senior Republican for the entire House Appropriations Committee.  These positions have enabled to me be a fierce advocate for our national security and the men and women who work so hard to provide it.  The world is an extremely dangerous place with countries like Iran and China and terrorists who are constant threats to the American way of life.

My goal is simple – if any of our enemies want to fight the United States, I want to guarantee it is not a fair fight.  They will face the United States military, the strongest, most effective military in the world. 

The National Guard is an essential, central component of our military. They integrate seamlessly with the active duty military to ensure that the United States can project power around the world.  These Guardsmen and women not only fight overseas for our great nation, they also play a vital role in defending and responding to emergencies at home.  They respond to domestic emergencies like hurricanes, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are an essential component of our counterdrug efforts.  Texas is home of the largest state military force in the country and is made up of nearly 24,000 citizen-soldiers who can be activated by the President or the Governor at a moment’s notice.

From my time as Mayor of Fort Worth, to my current role in Congress, I’ve consistently seen the significant contributions of the National Guard.  Fort Worth plays central role in the security of the United States, from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, to the thousands of servicemembers who call Fort Worth home, to the thousands of men and women who work at the defense companies throughout the metroplex who ensure that our servicemen and women have the very best, most advanced planes, helicopter and weapons. I fight daily for all of them. 

NAS JRB Fort Worth is home to the 136th Airlift Wing.  This C-130 squadron has played important roles in our fights overseas and domestic disaster recovery.  Unfortunately, their C-130 airplanes are getting very old.  As a result, I have successfully led the fight to replace their aging C-130 fleet with newer, more capable planes that will keep them in the fight and allow them to continue to respond to hurricanes and other domestic disasters. 

It is truly an honor to receive this distinguished award, and I am humbled when I look at the past recipients, like President Ronald Reagan and President Bush.  I want to thank the Texas Adjutant General, Major General Tracy R. Norris and the National Guard Association of the United States for selecting me. 

Sincerely,

Kay Granger
Member of Congress