[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

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                               speech of

                           HON. CHIP CRAVAACK

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4310) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. CRAVAACK. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, 
which would express a sense of Congress that fighter wings performing 
the 24-hour Aerospace Control Alert missions provide an essential 
service in defending the sovereign airspace of the United States in the 
aftermath of 9/11.
  Mr. Chair, the tragic events of 9/11 exposed holes in our nation's 
air security and reinforced the need for the U.S. military to take the 
steps necessary to significantly increase our ability to intercept 
hostile aircraft. Today, there are fighter jets placed at strategic 
points all across the United States, charged with the mission to 
provide air defense through the detection, deterrence, and if 
necessary, defeat of hostile air attacks. These sites, known as 
Aerospace Control Alert sites, have fully armed aircraft and trained 
personnel on 24-hour alert, 365 days a year.
  One such Aerospace Control Alert site resides in my district. The 
148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard, also known as 
the ``Bulldogs,'' operates out of Duluth, Minnesota, and provides force 
protection of our country's northern border between Madison, Wisconsin, 
and Portland, Oregon. The Bulldogs have been performing the ACA mission 
successfully for years and were selected for the Raytheon trophy, which 
is awarded for outstanding performance to an Air Force or Air National 
Guard fighter unit with a mission in air defense. In fact, I am proud 
to say that the Director of the Air National Guard, Air Force Lt. Gen. 
Harry M. Wyatt III announced just this month that the 148th Fighter 
Wing was selected as the 2012 Air Force Association Outstanding Air 
National Guard Flying Unit.
  Given the importance of the 24-hour Aerospace Control Alert mission 
to our national security, I was greatly concerned when I learned a few 
months ago of NORAD's proposed reduction of the 24-hour alert mission 
requirement at two Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) sites in the 
Continental United States. It is my understanding that this proposal 
was submitted in line with the President's budget request for FY 2013 
and the U.S. Air Force's decision to make force structure changes.
  My concern grew when I learned of a January 2012 GAO report that 
reviewed NORAD's 2010 analysis on whether it could change the number 
and location of its fighter sites without affecting the military's 
ability to defend the country against airborne attack. GAO's conclusion 
was that this NORAD analysis did not adequately balance risk with 
targeted budget reductions.
  I recognize that our country's current fiscal reality necessitates 
the Department of Defense to tighten its belt and look for ways to do 
more with less.
  However, I think it is imperative that decisions that directly affect 
our nation's ability to defend itself should be made on the basis of 
risk-management principles that balance risk and costs.
  Therefore, I also rise today in support of Section 352 in the 
underlying bill, which would direct the Secretary of Defense to 
maintain our nation's existing eighteen ACA sites until the Secretary 
submits a report that shows the cost-benefit analysis and risk-based 
assessment of how future ACA changes would affect the DOD budget and 
force structure.
  I would like to thank Congressman LoBiondo for adding this important 
provision to the bill, and I urge the adoption of my amendment in 
recognition of a critical asset in our nation's defense system.

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