[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1010 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 1010

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 25, 2018.
Whereas according to Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein, the United 
        States Air Force is ``the smallest we've ever been'';
Whereas according to an April 2018 report from the Government Accountability 
        Office, more than a quarter of fighter pilot positions are unfilled;
Whereas the Air Force has just 18,000 of the roughly 20,000 pilots it needs to 
        crew its 5,500 fighters, bombers, airlifters, cargo planes, and rescue 
        helicopters;
Whereas this 10 percent gap in its air crew requirement could, as Secretary of 
        the Air Force Heather Wilson said in November of 2017, ``break the 
        force'';
Whereas almost \1/3\ of the Air Force's aircraft were not flyable, or mission-
        capable, at any given time in fiscal year 2017;
Whereas over the last decade, the total number of aircraft in the Air Force has 
        been on a downward slope;
Whereas the total number of aircraft in the Air Force will drop again from 
        fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018;
Whereas the average age of an aircraft, forcewide, increased from 24 years in 
        fiscal year 2010 to 27.6 years in fiscal year 2017; and
Whereas between fiscal years 2013 and 2017, accidents involving all Defense 
        Department warplanes rose nearly 40 percent: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) the United States Air Force faces significant readiness 
        challenges due to aging aircraft and depleted personnel;
            (2) Congress must provide the Air Force regular and sufficient 
        funding to address procurement, maintenance, and staffing shortfalls; 
        and
            (3) without this funding, United States national security is at 
        risk.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.