By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Priscilla Andrews pleaded with lawmakers Wednesday to set up a fund for Alabama's National Guard soldiers. She was given permission to address a joint meeting of the House and Senate budget committees. She says her son's Guard unit was in Iraq for 14 months, but it was so under-equipped soldiers' families had to spend their personal funds to buy equipment for the troops. Items included safety glasses and C-B radios. Andrews asked the budget committees to set up a fund that could be used to help deployed units that don't have adequate supplies. Representative John Knight, chairman of the House General Fund budget committee, says he'll speak with National Guard officials about it.