O’Malley seeks more federal funds for Guard, veterans

Gov. Martin O’Malley told Maryland’s congressional delegation Thursday that the state needs help with paying for Iraq war- and military-related issues ranging from equipment for the state’s National Guard to veteran’s cemeteries.

While thanking the state’s congressional leaders for securing more than $800 million in National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account dollars for units across the country, O’Malley said the state’s Army National Guard has only half of its authorized equipment on hand. According to O’Malley, the state has a shortage of technical equipment such as large-capacity generators, interoperable radios and Humvees.