Prohibit the WV National Guard to be sent into combat OVERSEAS without a congressional Declaration of War.

HB 5352 would amend West Virginia law to prohibit the governor from deploying the West Virginia National Guard into overseas combat without a formal declaration of war by the U.S. Congress. The bill specifically requires a Congressional declaration for any combat deployment abroad, while allowing the governor to deploy the National Guard within the United States. This provision would be added to the state code governing the National Guard, making it a legal requirement for the governor to seek such a declaration before authorizing overseas combat missions. The bill directly affects the governor's authority over state National Guard deployments and aligns with the U.S. Constitution's requirement for Congress to declare war.