HR 128 (LSB 6055HH (8) 84)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 128

BY  J. TAYLOR, THOMAS, WITTNEBEN, KEARNS, THEDE, WOLFE, JACOBY, BERRY, H. MILLER, LYKAM, COHOON, M. SMITH, HEDDENS, KRESSIG, GASKILL, KAJTAZOVIC, HANSON, HALL, T. OLSON, WENTHE, OLDSON, PETERSEN, MURPHY, HUNTER, R. OLSON, STECKMAN, HAGER, PAULSEN, FRY, BALTIMORE, PETTENGILL, WINCKLER, FORRISTALL, KLEIN, PAUSTIAN, MASSIE, SODERBERG, SANDS, HEATON, DRAKE, GARRETT, BRANDENBURG, RAYHONS, BAUDLER, WATTS, HUSEMAN, LOFGREN, ALONS, CHAMBERS, DE BOEF, TJEPKES, UPMEYER, SCHULTE, KOESTER, SCHULTZ, ROGERS, HAGENOW, PEARSON, SHAW, J. SMITH, COWNIE, BYRNES, GRASSLEY, LUKAN, S. OLSON, MOORE, JORGENSEN, SWEENEY, DOLECHECK, IVERSON, WINDSCHITL, WORTHAN, HANUSA, RASMUSSEN, VAN ENGELENHOVEN, and ARNOLD

A Resolution urging Congress and the President of the United States to protect Iowa’s Air National Guard units from additional budget cuts.

   WHEREAS, state militias, now known as the national guard, have been a bulwark of this nation’s military defense system since 1776; and
   WHEREAS, since 1941, the Iowa Air National Guard has been an integral part of our nation’s defense and our state’s emergency response system; and
   WHEREAS, defense budget cuts ranging from $450 billion up to $1 trillion over the next decade will force each branch of the military service to reexamine its balance of forces in the active duty, guard, and reserve branches; and
   WHEREAS, the United States Air Force has announced it wants to remove 21 F-16 fighter jets of the 132nd Fighter Wing from the Des Moines Air National Guard base to meet these budget cuts, eliminating over 500 Iowa jobs; and
   WHEREAS, over the last 68 years, the 132nd Fighter Wing has participated in numerous actions including World War II, the Korean Conflict, and many of the support functions of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom; and
   WHEREAS, the 132nd Fighter Wing has received numerous awards, including eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and has participated in exercises and deployments worldwide; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives urges the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the United States Secretary of Defense, to protect the Iowa Air National Guard from any future reductions or other budget cuts; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense, and to members of the Iowa congressional delegation.