[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 561 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 561

  Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the North American Aerospace 
                            Defense Command.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 13, 2008

   Mr. Allard (for himself, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Hagel, and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; 
                   which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the North American Aerospace 
                            Defense Command.

Whereas, on May 12, 1958, the United States and Canada signed an official 
        agreement creating the bi-national North American Aerospace Defense 
        Command (NORAD) and formally acknowledged their mutual commitment to 
        defending their citizens from air attacks;
Whereas 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the North American 
        Aerospace Defense Command and the outstanding efforts of American and 
        Canadian service men and women defending North America;
Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command is a unique and fully 
        integrated bi-national United States and Canadian command;
Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command is headquartered at 
        Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and administered 
        by the United States Air Force, with 3 subordinate regional centers 
        located at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Tyndall Air Force Base, 
        Florida, and Canadian Forces Base, Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Whereas the mission of the North American Aerospace Defense Command is to 
        ``prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign 
        airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, 
        unwanted, and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within 
        those airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North 
        America'';
Whereas, through joint support arrangements with other commands, the North 
        American Aerospace Defense Command, including United States Strategic 
        Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, detects, validates, and 
        warns of attacks against North America whether by aircraft, missile, or 
        space vehicle;
Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern 
        Command (USNORTHCOM) joint command center serves as a central collection 
        and coordination site for a worldwide system of sensors designed to 
        provide the commander and the governments of Canada and the United 
        States with an accurate picture of any aerospace threat;
Whereas the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command provides 
        integrated tactical warning and attack assessments to the governments of 
        the United States and Canada;
Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command uses a network of 
        satellites, ground-based and airborne radar, fighters and helicopters, 
        and ground-based air defense systems to detect, intercept, and, if 
        necessary, engage any air-breathing threats to North America;
Whereas North American Aerospace Defense Command assists in the detection and 
        monitoring of aircraft suspected of illegal drug trafficking;
Whereas the Alaskan NORAD Region located at Elmendorf Air Force Base is 
        supported by both the Eleventh Air Force and Air National Guard units;
Whereas the May 2006 North American Aerospace Defense Command Agreement renewal 
        added a maritime warning mission to its slate of responsibilities, which 
        entails a shared awareness and understanding of the ongoing activities 
        conducted in United States and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime 
        areas, and inland waterways;
Whereas the horrific events of September 11, 2001, demonstrated the North 
        American Aerospace Defense Command's continued relevance to North 
        American security;
Whereas, since 2001, the Continental NORAD region, which is divided into 2 
        defense sectors--the Western Defense Sector, with its headquarters 
        located at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, and the Eastern Defense 
        Sector, with its headquarters located at Rome, New York--has been the 
        lead agency for Operation Noble Eagle, an ongoing mission to protect the 
        continental United States from further airborne aggression from inside 
        and outside of America's borders;
Whereas, in the spring of 2003, North American Aerospace Defense Command 
        fighters based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, intercepted 2 
        hijacked aircraft that originated in Cuba and escorted them to Key West, 
        Florida;
Whereas the continued service with valor and honor of American and Canadian men 
        and women serving at the North American Aerospace Defense Command is 
        central to North America's ability to confront and successfully defeat 
        threats of the 21st century; and
Whereas the continuation of the longstanding and successful relationship between 
        the United States and Canada through the North American Aerospace 
        Defense Command is paramount to the future security of the people of the 
        United States and Canada: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the contributions made by the North American 
        Aerospace Defense Command to the security of North America; and
            (2) commemorates 50 years of excellence and distinctive 
        service to the United States and Canada.
                                 <all>