HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) to allow the state’s Armory Board to advise on more issues pertaining to Pennsylvania’s National Guard received unanimous support today from the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Currently, an armory in Pennsylvania is a building that is used for housing PA National Guard soldiers. However, there are many necessary buildings that serve a wide variety of needs that are not considered part of the armory since no one is physically quartered in them.
Senate Bill 1047 would change this definition to encapsulate all buildings the military uses to be part of the armory, allowing for more efficient oversight.
It would also give the adjutant general (TAG) the option to designate someone to sit on the Armory Board in his place and allow the TAG to authorize rental of properties to government and non-profit agencies such as the Marine League, American Legion and Civil Air Patrol.
“My bill would help the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manage and maintain properties like Fort Indiantown Gap and others around the commonwealth more effectively,” Sen. Gebhard said. “We have to maximize the resources we have in the most efficient way possible.”
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Matthew Urban, 717-787-5708