Bill Text: MI SR0146 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize Congress to renew its commitment to the defense of our nation and to maintain the strength of the C-27J and A-10 units at Michigan's Battle Creek and Selfridge Air National Guard Bases.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 12-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-01 - Referred To Committee On Veterans, Military Affairs And Homeland Security [SR0146 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-SR0146-Introduced.html
Senators Colbeck, Brandenburg, Nofs, Pappageorge, Caswell and Jones offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 146.
A resolution to memorialize Congress to renew its commitment to the defense of our nation and to maintain the strength of the C-27J and A-10 units at Michigan's Battle Creek and Selfridge Air National Guard Bases.
Whereas, As outlined in the United States Constitution, the principal responsibility of the federal government is the defense of our citizens. Our elected officials in Washington, D.C., have all taken an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution; and
Whereas, Our nation is currently engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom with the military deployed in Afghanistan. Of the military personnel carrying out this dangerous mission, Michigan has several units deployed, which includes more than 1,400 men and women currently serving. Additionally, the Michigan National Guard has over 200 soldiers serving in Kuwait, Germany, England, Guam, and Liberia. Michigan's longstanding commitment to the defense of the country is well-established and well-documented; and
Whereas, Since 1977, four Michigan military installations have been closed, including Kincheloe Air Force Base in 1977, Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1991, K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in 1993, and the U.S. Army Garrison at Selfridge Air Force Base in 2005. These closings have contributed to Michigan, the "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II, being near the bottom of the states in the proportion of military spending. In addition, the amount of money spent on veteran services in Michigan is among the very lowest, even as our state is eleventh in the number of veterans; and
Whereas, The President and Congress are proposing to cut $8.7 billion of the Air Force's $54 billion Force Structure Adjustments in fiscal year 2013. These cuts include the proposed elimination of the C-27J and A-10 aircraft. As a result, Michigan is projected to lose 673 jobs with the elimination of these forces; and
Whereas, With these cuts, our nation's capacity to address additional conflicts amidst an environment of unrest in the Middle East and North Korea would be seriously compromised; and
Whereas, To many observers, the elimination of Air National Guard units is of questionable value in cost-cutting, as Air National Guard Wings cost an average of 10 percent of the cost of active duty Air Force Wings and feature four times the experience; and
Whereas, The replacement deployments are not nearly commensurate with the elimination of these forces and feature at least one system that is slated for near-term retirement (KC-135s); and
Whereas, Our national policy should be to provide the most deterrence capability for the least amount of cost; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize Congress to renew its commitment to the defense of our nation and to maintain the strength of the C-27J and A-10 units at Michigan's Battle Creek and Selfridge Air National Guard Bases; 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, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Secretary of Defense.
