Rep. Forlini offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 211. 

            A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to reject the recommendations of the United States Department of Defense to remove the A-10 Thunderbolt II force from the 127th Wing of the Air National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

            Whereas, The federal mission of the Air National Guard is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and to provide assistance during national emergencies; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Air National Guard exemplifies this federal mission and provides well-trained citizen-airmen to the United States Air Force; and

            Whereas, Utilizing the highly trained and experienced citizen-airmen of the Michigan Air National Guard is significantly more economical for the United States Department of Defense than utilizing active military units; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Air National Guard provides protection of life and property, and preserves peace, order, and public safety in the state of Michigan by providing emergency relief support during natural disasters; conducting search and rescue operations; providing support to civil defense authorities; and maintaining vital public services and counterdrug operations in the state; and

            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

            Whereas, The Selfridge Air National Guard Base dates back to 1917, and it currently hosts 20 units from all branches of the United States military, as well as the United States Coast Guard and the United States Customs and Border Patrol; and

            Whereas, The 127th Wing flies KC-135 Stratotankers, which provide aerial refueling capabilities around the globe in support of Air Mobility Command, and A-10 Thunderbolt II, which provide support to Air Combat Command.  Additionally, the 127th Wing supports the Air Force Special Operations Command with its 107th Weather Flight; and

            Whereas, The A-10 Thunderbolt II mission was transferred to Selfridge Air National Guard Base from the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base following the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations; and

            Whereas, The Department of Defense has proposed the removal of all 24 of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 127th Wing and replacing them with four additional KC-135 Stratotankers; and

            Whereas, Approximately 650 personnel are attached to the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission; and

            Whereas, It is unknown how many support personnel will be necessary to service the additional KC-35 Stratotankers; and

            Whereas, Removing the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission could affect more than 600 families in and around Macomb County; and

            Whereas, The removal of the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission could make the Selfridge Air National Guard Base vulnerable to closure in the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations in 2013 and 2015; and

            Whereas, The Selfridge Air National Guard Base is one of the busiest, most diverse military installations in the United States, encompassing approximately 680 buildings, runways measuring 9,000 and 4,870 feet, over a million square yards of taxiway and paved aircraft parking ramps, 39 miles of paved roads, and seven miles of railroad track; and

            Whereas, Recent military construction improvements to Selfridge include $5.2 million to replace the Control Tower/Radar Approach Control Center and $9.8 million for an infrastructure upgrade; and

            Whereas, The Selfridge Air National Guard Base is essential to the local economy, as nearly 3,000 full-time civilian and military personnel work at the base, in addition to approximately 3,000 members of the Air and Army National Guard and the reserve components of the United States military who are stationed at the base; and

            Whereas, Portions of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base have previously been targeted for closure in 1995 and 2005; and

            Whereas, The defense industry is vital to the economy of Macomb County; and

            Whereas, The loss of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base would have a significant impact on the local community, with the loss of employment positions, local revenue, and a significant source of community pride; and

            Whereas, The military presence in Michigan has already been significantly reduced by the United States Department of Defense, with the 1993 decision to close the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County and the 1991 decision to close the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Iosco County; and

            Whereas, Losses to the 127th Wing of the Air National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base would have immeasurable consequences for the state of Michigan. The negative consequences include not only the economic ramifications, but also the damage to 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 reject the United States Department of Defense recommendations to remove the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 127th Wing of the Air National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base; 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.