[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 68 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 68

  Recognizing the contributions of the Pennsylvania National Guard in 
                         service to the Nation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2009

    Mr. Specter (for himself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the contributions of the Pennsylvania National Guard in 
                         service to the Nation.

Whereas the Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the largest Guards in the 
        Nation, with approximately 20,000 soldiers and airmen;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, more than 17,000 Pennsylvania National Guard 
        soldiers and airmen have deployed in support of the Global War on 
        Terrorism;
Whereas the Pennsylvania National Guard is supporting the largest deployment of 
        Pennsylvania Guardsmen since World War II;
Whereas the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is preparing for deployment to 
        Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, now deployed in Iraq, predates the 
        United States Army, traces its lineage to 1747, when Benjamin Franklin 
        organized the ``Associated Regiment of Foot'' (currently 1-111th 
        Infantry) in Philadelphia, and is the only unit in the National Guard to 
        field the Stryker vehicle;
Whereas the Pennsylvania National Guard has deployed to more than 30 locations 
        worldwide since September 11, 2001;
Whereas Pennsylvania's Army Aviation Flight Facility at Fort Indiantown Gap is 
        the first and only National Guard facility in the Nation to achieve the 
        Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary 
        Protection Program ``STAR Award'' for exhibiting exceptional safety 
        management principles and accident-free flying hours, and effectively 
        demonstrating the implementation of these principles during years-long 
        intensive OSHA inspections;
Whereas in 2008, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's (PaANG) 171st Air 
        Refueling Wing flew more than 5,800 flying hours with more than 1,600 
        sorties flown, representing an 85 percent mission effectiveness rate;
Whereas the PaANG's 193rd Special Operations Wing flew more than 3,000 hours 
        with more than 1,000 sorties in 2008 and is the only unit in the entire 
        Armed Forces with an airborne psychological operations broadcasting 
        platform;
Whereas the PaANG's 111th Fighter Wing flew more than 675 close-air support 
        missions and provided more than 2,000 hours of on-station time to 
        coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
Whereas soldiers and airmen from Pennsylvania's Counterdrug Program supported 
        575 cases that resulted in the seizure of more than $27,000,000 in 
        illegal narcotics, money, weapons, property, and vehicles directly 
        related to illegal drug sales in 2008: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the Pennsylvania National Guard for its 
        meritorious service to Pennsylvania and the Nation;
            (2) honors the men and women who serve, or have served, in 
        the Pennsylvania National Guard; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to thank the 
        Pennsylvania National Guard for its continued service.
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