Substitute for House Resolution No. 215.

            A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to reconsider the recommendations of the 2012 United States Air Force Structure Change Report and to deliver no fewer than four C-27J aircraft to the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard as previously committed or, in the event that such aircraft are not currently available, to deliver an MQ-1/9 RSO element to the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base until such time as no fewer than four C-27J aircraft become available.

            Whereas, The Michigan Air National Guard, being the air force militia of the state, has a long and proud history with the state of Michigan and the city of Battle Creek; and

            Whereas, The Battle Creek Air National Guard Base is currently home to the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National guard, which currently hosts a flying mission of C-21 passenger aircraft, and the 110th Air Operations Group, which provides critical support to the 17th Air Force, or United States Air Forces Africa; and

            Whereas, The units of the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard have had a history in Battle Creek, Michigan, since 1947; and

            Whereas, The 110th Airlift Wing is a tremendous source of civic pride in the greater Battle Creek area, as it has been one of the most decorated Air National Guard units in the nation, receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1992, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2011, an honor bestowed on fewer than 10 percent of Air Force units annually; and

            Whereas, The citizens of Battle Creek have, over the years, committed unmatched support for the Air National Guard in Battle Creek, including in 1984 by a 4 to 1 majority when voters pledged to extend the runway from 7,003 to 10,003 feet to meet the needs of the Air National Guard, in 2006 when the city's economic development authority purchased 74 acres of residentially zoned, vacant property to preclude encroachment, and when Battle Creek proactively contributed resources and sought matching funds for the construction of a new air traffic control tower to address line of sight issues and construct a parallel runway to enhance safety; and

            Whereas, The defense industry, including the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center, and the Fort Custer Army National Guard Base, is integral to the local community, and its components are vital, both as symbols of civic pride and as cornerstones of the local economy; and

            Whereas, The defense industry is vital to the economy of the city of Battle Creek, with approximately 3,000 local jobs tied to defense; and

            Whereas, The Battle Creek Air National Guard Base contributes $22.2 million in total wages and salaries and a total of $26 million in gross regional product to Calhoun County; and

            Whereas, More than $22 million in taxpayer funding has been invested in the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base from 2001 to 2011, $16.7 million of which represents the federal share and $5.2 million of which was invested by the state of Michigan.  The 110th Airlift Wing has been the recipient of $477 million in operational funding from 2001 to 2011, including military construction, personnel, and operations and maintenance; and

            Whereas, The existing infrastructure and trained personnel at the Battle Creek Air National Guard base are ideally suited to support the C-27J, and the Battle Creek Air National Guard base is second to no other location in the nation for C-27J mission support; and

            Whereas, C-27J aircraft based in Southwest Michigan, due to its central location, will provide superior response capabilities in FEMA Region 5 and the region served by the 51st Civil Support Team; and

            Whereas, Locating an MQ-1/9 RSO element at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base instead of the previously committed C-27J aircraft would result in a loss of approximately 70 jobs with the 110th Airlift Wing; and

            Whereas, Delivering neither the four C-27J aircraft or an MQ-1/9 RSO element to the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base would result in significant harm to the economy of the city of Battle Creek, as well as jeopardizing the significant investments made by the citizens of Michigan and the United States by making the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base vulnerable to future Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) recommendations; and

            Whereas, The Battle Creek Air National Guard Base has already been targeted for closure by the BRAC Commission.  In 2005, as a result of recommendations by the BRAC Commission, the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base lost 161 jobs and a squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft was reassigned to Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The BRAC Commission also considered the closure of the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, which houses integral elements of the Defense Logistics Agency of the United States Department of Defense; and

            Whereas, The loss of employment positions with the 110th Airlift Wing at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base would have a significant impact on the local economy; and

            Whereas, Any negative impacts on the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base would also have other serious consequences, including potential ramifications for other organizations that utilize W.K. Kellogg Airport, including the Western Michigan University College of Aviation; and

            Whereas, The Michigan House of Representatives has already urged the United States Department of Defense to deliver no fewer than four C-27J aircraft to the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard in Battle Creek; and

            Whereas, Any negative impact on the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base will have immeasurable consequences for the city of Battle Creek and the state of Michigan, both in terms of economic ramifications, as well as in terms of community pride and disaster readiness; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States to reconsider the recommendations of the 2012 United States Air Force Structure Change Report and to deliver no fewer than four C-27J aircraft to the 110th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard as previously committed or, in the event that such aircraft are not currently available, to deliver an MQ-1/9 RSO element to the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base until such time as no fewer than four C-27J aircraft become available, and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, United States Secretary of Defense, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.