Bill Text: MI HR0034 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to continue funding the F-22 Raptor fifth generation air dominance stealth fighter.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-25 - Referred To Committee On Military And Veterans Affairs And Homeland Security [HR0034 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HR0034-Introduced.html
Rep. Green offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 34.
A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to continue funding the F-22 Raptor fifth generation air dominance stealth fighter.
Whereas, Since 1944, America has enjoyed air superiority over the battlefields on which our Army and Marine Corps fought and over the seas where our Navy sailed. This air superiority has allowed us to conduct the reconnaissance, ground attack, interdiction, strike, and re-supply missions that enable our forces to engage and destroy enemy forces on the land and sea. Just as critically but less appreciated because of our long run of air superiority, keeping enemy aircraft at bay protects our ground forces and ships from the devastating effects of modern enemy air power. The F-22 Raptor is the latest fighter plane our aerospace industry has developed to continue our record of aerial excellence through air dominance; and
Whereas, The United States Air Force is currently flying the F-22 Raptor as our most advanced air dominance system. It will replace the more than 25-year-old air superiority F-15 Eagle as our first line of defense in the skies. The Raptor’s agility, stealth, situational awareness built on fused multiple sensors, speed, and long-range lethal weapons provide our F-22 pilots with the tools they need to dominate the skies in any future conflict. In simulated combat, the Raptor has compiled a lopsided record against every adversary, in the air or on the ground. On these Raptor wings, the future of air dominance flies. Yet we are contracted to building only 183 of these vital aircraft, which is a force less than half the size the Air Force considers necessary. Potential enemies will have access to advanced fighters and sophisticated and lethal surface-to-air defense systems that China and Russia are developing and fielding today. Our Air Force's and America’s reliance on such a small number of new frontline aircraft, coupled with aging legacy F-16s, F-15s and A-10s, poses a very real strategic risk; and
Whereas, With over 900 contractors in 44 states, including Michigan, the Raptor is backed by the full industrial and knowledge base of the arsenal of democracy. The economic benefits that flow to the states such as Michigan are an important part of achieving economic growth in high-tech areas. Michigan, especially, needs to retain high-tech jobs that participating in this revolutionary high-tech program provides. Michigan communities are enthusiastic partners in producing this superb aircraft and continuing Michigan's historic role in building the weapons that allow us to defeat ruthless enemies who would wreck what we have built; and
Whereas, Two decades of monumental national effort to produce just 183 Raptors would be squandered if production were ended prematurely. The nationwide network of F-22 suppliers will begin to close down or move on to other work if no additional lots of F-22s are funded. As a hedge against an uncertain future, Congress must fund more F-22 Raptors. Advance Purchase funding for the tenth lot of at least 20 F-22s needs to be included in the fiscal year 2009 budget in order to keep the F-22 supply chain intact and continue production. Once the production network is disbanded, it can only be reassembled at great cost in time and resources. We may not have the luxury of time in an emergency; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, that we memorialize the United States Congress to continue funding the F-22 Raptor fifth generation air dominance stealth fighter; and be it further
Resolved, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
