[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5203-S5204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DEFENDING THE 939TH AIR RESCUE WING

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce 
an amendment with Senator Wyden to preserve a truly invaluable search 
and rescue capability in the Pacific Northwest.
  On May 30, all eyes in Oregon and across the Nation watched as brave 
Oregonians put themselves in harms way to rescue climbers on Mt. Hood. 
The rescuers included members of the Oregon National Guard, the 
Portland Mountain Rescue, and the Air Force Reserve 939th Air Rescue 
Wing, whose members have been lauded for scores of rescues on Mt. Hood 
and the Oregon Coast, not to mention rescues in our neighboring state 
of Washington.
  Last week, nine climbers were swept into a 20-foot deep crevasse on 
Mt. Hood. Tragically three of the climbers did not survive, but the 
stills of the rescuers ensured that others would survive. The rescue 
last week highlighted the skills of the Rescue Wing and the importance 
Oregonians placed on the Wing's capabilities in the region. While 
adverse wind conditions most likely sent one of the helicopters into an 
inevitable crash, the highly skilled pilot of the 939th ensured that 
the crew survived and that all on the ground were unharmed.
  This happened just one week after the 939th rescued a sick climber 
from Mt. Hood's Sandy Glacier. I believe this rescue highlights the 
Wing's capabilities. Late in the evening, the 304th Rescue Squadron 
used it night vision capabilities to spot the climber at an elevation 
of 8,750 feet. The Pave Hawk, equipped with a hoist, lowered down Steve 
Rollins of Portland Mountain Rescue onto the Glacier to assess the 
climber. After being secured to the hoist, the climber and rescuer were 
raised into the helicopter and transported to safety.
  Oregonians were devastated to hear of Air Force plans to take away 
the 939th Search and Rescue Wing out of the State to move it to 
Florida.
  Oregonians realize that the 939th's mission is to rescue our brave 
men in combat. In fact, we believe that the members of the 939th are 
among the very best trained in the Nation. We know this because we know 
the Oregon terrain and we have witnessed first-hand their skill under 
most challenging conditions.
  The decision to move the 939th came about in December 2000--ten 
months prior to a day that has changed our understanding of national 
security and defense needs. We have been at war since September 11. We 
need to keep the highly trained combat search and rescuers who are 
ready to serve at a moment's notice. A new active duty wing would 
neither be ready today nor tomorrow, not next week nor next month. It 
would take two years to stand up a new active duty rescue wing. We not 
only need assets in places abroad where al Quaeda members train, but we 
need a capability at home to support homeland security needs.
  I have not seen enough evidence to make me believe that changing the 
mission of a CSAR Wing would be advantageous to the United States in 
wartime.
  In the wake of September 11, the President established the White 
House Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council to 
ensure that our Federal response and protection efforts are coordinated 
and effective. The President also directed

[[Page S5204]]

Homeland Security Advisor Tom Ridge to determine if the current 
government structure allows us to meet the threats of today while 
anticipating the unknown threats of tomorrow. I question why the Air 
Force has not done the same.
  I understand that my original amendment was not considered germane. 
This amendment would have prevented any funds from being made available 
for this conversion. The amendment the managers accepted requires the 
Secretary of the Air Force to certify that a comparable search and 
rescue capability is available in the 939th Combat Search and Rescue 
Wing's area of responsibility and that any new aircraft assigned to the 
unit will comply with local environmental and noise standards, and that 
the Air Force has developed a plan for the transition of personnel 
currently assigned to the unit.
  I appreciate the assistance from Senators Stevens, Inouye, and Byrd 
and look forward to working with them on this important issue.
  Let me close by illustrating why this is so important to me and all 
Oregonians. The pioneer spirit of the Oregon Trail did not end with the 
settlement of the valleys of Oregon. That spirit and bravery is very 
much still alive in my state. But Oregonians cannot go any further 
west. They can only go up, into the skies and into the mountains. It is 
there that the modern-day pioneers meet with both triumph and tragedy, 
and their lessons are learned.
  The lessons of last week on Mt. Hood are harsh ones that remind us of 
human frailty and the unbending forces of nature. Not unlike the tragic 
events of the last year, what I saw in the recovery on Mt. Hood also 
illustrates the bravery and compassion inherent in us all, and I want 
that spirit to continue in Oregon.
  This is the spirit that is the bedrock of America's Armed Forces. It 
is clear to me that removing the 939th from Oregon would truly be a 
tragedy without a lesson.

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