Dear Editor,  As a student at Vergennes Union High School, I drive by the Vermont National Guard Armory every day on my way to school. When practicing emergency evacuation drills, students line up and walk across the street into the armory. As in many other communities, the Vermont Guard is int egrated into our lives.  This is why legislation known as the Defend the Guard Act, introduced as H.355 in the latest legislative biennium, is a bill that Vermont communities and legislators should support and advocate for. The bill would require the governor to determine whether a call-up of the Vermont Guard for combat complies with the Constitution’s requirement that Congress authorize war — and formally object if it doesn’t. It is a necessary response to President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional deployment of Vermont National Guard members to Venezuela in January and, more recently, Iran. These decisions were made without congressional approval.  As a resident of Vergennes, I am disappointed and frustrated by the decision of Rep. Matt Birong, D-Vergennes, not to support the bill. It was introduced to the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, where Birong is chair. While he says the bill is likely unconstitutional as a violation of the supremacy clause, in reality the bill would reinforce the Constitution by enforcing Congress’ prerogative over war.  READ MORE Though Birong is not running for reelection, I encourage those seeking to replace him to endorse the bill and introduce it in the upcoming legislative session to enforce the Constitution and protect the National Guard members who so greatly impact the community of Vergennes and the larger population of Vermont. Georgia KunkelVergennes, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont must pass the Defend the Guard Act. ...read more read less