Ryan to Co-Chair National Guard, Reserve Caucus
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan was named co-chairman of the House National Guard and Reserve Caucus yesterday.
Ryan, D-13 Ohio, will join U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-4 Miss., in leading the caucus during the 116th Congress. He succeeds U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-1 Minn., who served as co-chairman for the 114th and 115th Congresses. Walz was elected Minnesota’s governor in November.
“As Ohio’s 13thdistrict is home to Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp Ravenna, I understand the importance of ensuring our guardsman and reservists all across the nation are given the proper tools and necessary funding to carry out their work,” Ryan said.
Palazzo said he was proud to continue serving as co-chairman of the caucus and looked forward to serving with Ryan. “As a current member of the Mississippi National Guard, it is my personal duty to ensure that every Guardsman and Reservist has an ever present voice in Congress. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we provide the necessary funding, equipment and resources for those who are ready to defend our homeland on a moment’s notice,” he said.
Vito Abruzzino, executive director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, hailed Ryan’s appointment.
“Anytime we are able, as a community, to get local leaders appointed to committees of national security importance we take a step in the right direction to support and defend the military missions that call Northeast Ohio home,” Abruzzino said. “With Ohio’s only stand-alone Air Force Reserve Station being located in the 13th district, Congressmen Ryan will be well-positioned to act positively on behalf of the 910th, and the reserve force as a whole.”
Retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the president of the National Guard Association of the United States, called Ryan an “excellent choice” to co-chair the caucus with Palazzo.
“He has long been a strong supporter of the Guard. He is familiar with the issues our forces face moving forward. And he has the respect of senior defense leaders,” Robinson said. “We look forward to working closely with two such dynamic and experienced legislators.”
The House caucus “has a history of achieving support for our Guard members and their families, retired Sgt. Maj. Frank Yoakum, executive director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, said.
“We look forward to partnering with Representatives Ryan and Palazzo as they lead the fight in the House, ensuring the Guard has the resources and manpower it needs to serve both in war and at home. United together we will advance bipartisan legislation that benefits our citizen-soldiers and airmen of the National Guard,” Yoakum said.
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