III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 68 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

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.