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By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog

CHARLESTON — An amendment that would give the National Guard a seat at the big table passed the Senate with praise from West Virginia’s Senate delegation.

An amendment to the Defense authorization bill, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), passed Monday evening by voice vote. The amendment would give the National Guard on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The amendment had the backing of Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), along with 70 co-sponsors. Rockefeller sponsored a similar amendment with S. 242, called the Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011.

“This is a huge victory for the National Guard,” Rockefeller said. “Time and time again, our Guard has shown that it deserves to be an equal partner in the leadership of our military. Now it’s going to happen. Soon when the President of the United States gathers the head of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force in the Oval Office, the National Guard will be right there with them.”

Since his appointment last year to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Manchin has advocated for elevating the National Guard to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. With the role of the National Guard changing since September 11, Manchin said the branch deserves more say.

“Our National Guard and Reserve forces have taken on a major role in our combat missions abroad, while continuing to take the lead on the front lines during disasters here at home,” Manchin said. “This nation’s increased reliance on the National Guard has earned them a seat at the table along with our active duty forces, and I commend my good friend and colleague Senator Rockefeller for leading the charge to make this happen.”

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is against the National Guard joining the Joint Chiefs. Dempsey said the interests of the National Guard are already represented, and the National Guard has no budget.

“The service chief, along with the service secretary, has the responsibility to organize, train and equip the force using the resources given him by the Congress of the United States,” Dempsey said at the National Guard’s 2011 Joint Senior Leadership Conference three weeks ago in Maryland.

The Defense authorization bill will be voted on later this week.