HR0457

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, through the 
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Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, has made 
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recommendations about which military installations are to be 
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considered for closure or realignment in cost-cutting measures 
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for the military; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a distinct and important 
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military installation that is listed for realignment, the 
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Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in Springfield; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Under the U.S. Department of Defense 
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recommendations, the Capital Airport Air National Guard 
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Station in Springfield will suffer a net loss of 163 jobs; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Defense recommendations, 
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if adopted, would force the Capital Airport Air National Guard 
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Station in Springfield to eliminate approximately 20% of the 
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approximately 774 job positions currently utilized by this 
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facility; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in 
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Springfield provides combat ready aircraft, pilots, and 
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required support personnel capable of global deployment to 
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perform tactical, general purpose warfare as directed by major 
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command authority; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in 
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Springfield is one of the remaining bases at the center of the 
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continental United States that are perfectly situated for 
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expedient transportation anywhere in the nation; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in 
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Springfield is a fully capable, active-duty military airfield 
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in the central United States and is indispensable in both our 
 


 






HR0457
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current and future efforts to counter threats to our security; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in 
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Springfield has unencumbered airspace for training and 
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exercise missions and has plenty of space for expansion, even 
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for housing other branches of the military; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Capital Airport Air National Guard Station in 
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Springfield is nearing completion of a $10 million, state of 
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the art headquarters building; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Army National Guard has begun the process of 
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replacing its current fixed-wing utility fleet with a 
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fixed-wing cargo fleet; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois have long been 
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at the forefront of our Nation's defense, are first to join and 
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send troops in any conflict, and have a strong tradition of 
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support and appreciation for the bases within our borders; 
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therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we take this opportunity to convey our appreciation for the 
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advocacy and support for the Capital Airport Air National Guard 
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Station in Springfield that the Congress of the United States 
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and the Illinois Congressional Delegation have provided over 
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the years, and we strongly urge the Congress of the United 
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States to consider the importance of this installation in this 
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time of war on terrorism and the vital need to protect our 
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Nation; and be it further
 

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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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transmitted to the President Pro-Tem of the United States 
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Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of 
 


 






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Representatives, to each member of the Illinois Congressional 
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Delegation, to each member of the Base Realignment and Closure 
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Commission (BRAC), and to the President of the United States of 
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America.