During 2025, governors from several states deployed more than 1,000 National Guard members to other states and the District of Columbia to assist with federal operations. These troops were not federalized and were sent without the consent of the receiving jurisdiction, violating sovereignty rights and impacting their ability to enforce their own laws. While the President has the authority to federalize the National Guard in specific circumstances, Pennsylvania should put safeguards in place to prevent the deployment to Pennsylvania of out-of-state forces that have not been federalized and do not have the consent of Pennsylvania officials.
 
My legislation will prohibit an out-of-state military force from entering Pennsylvania for military duty without the express consent of our governor. With the governor’s permission, an out-of-state force could remain in Pennsylvania for up to 30 days, while extended deployments beyond 30 days would require approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Several states, including South Carolina, Texas, and Washington, already have similar laws in place. This legislation would not hinder Pennsylvania’s ability to collaborate with other states as needed to respond to emergency situations, but ensures that other states cannot use their forces to impose their values or policies on our residents. By enacting these protections, we will affirm Pennsylvania’s right to enforce our own laws and make it clear that out-of-state forces have no place in our communities without the permission of the governor and the General Assembly.
 
Please consider joining me in supporting this legislation to protect Pennsylvania from unauthorized and unaccountable military deployments from out-of-state military forces.