[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E533-E534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE 
                            DEFENSE COMMAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2018

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, two thousand eighteen marks the 60th 
anniversary of the creation of the North American Aerospace Defense 
Command, commonly referred to as ``NORAD.'' The United States and 
Canada, bound together by our history, our values, our economy, our 
environment, and our resolve to improve the lives of our citizens, have 
long enjoyed a close relationship that has allowed for continuous 
collaboration building a prosperous future for the people of both 
countries. The United States and Canada have stood shoulder to shoulder 
in defense of security for more than 100 years, as partners and allies 
in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, throughout the Cold War, 
in Afghanistan, and as part of the Global Coalition against Daesh; 
working together to advance our shared values.
   As indispensable allies in the defense of North America, on May 12, 
1958, the United States and Canada signed an official agreement 
creating the bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command and 
formally acknowledged the mutual commitment of both countries to defend 
their citizens from air domain attacks. This cooperation is an 
important element of United States and Canadian contributions to the 
collective defense provided by the members of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization.
   The North American Aerospace Defense Command enjoys a unique status 
as the only fully integrated bi-national military command. The North 
American Aerospace Defense Command is headquartered at Peterson Air 
Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, with three subordinate region 
headquarters located at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, for the 
Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR); Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, for the 
Continental NORAD Region (CONR); and Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, 
Manitoba, for the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR), along with three 
subordinate sector command centers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 
Washington, for the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS); Rome, New York, 
for the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS); and Canadian Forces Base 
North Bay, Ontario, for the Canadian Air Defense Sector (CADS).
   The missions of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are to 
provide aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning to 
defend North America. The North American Aerospace Defense Command and 
the United States Northern Command current operations center is 
connected to a worldwide system of sensors that provides the Commander 
of the North American Aerospace Defense Command with a common operating 
picture of aerospace and maritime threats.
   The Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station hosts the Alternate Command 
Center for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United 
States Northern Command. The Commander of the North American Aerospace 
Defense Command provides integrated tactical warning and attack 
assessments to the Government of the United States and the Government 
of Canada.
   The North American Aerospace Defense Command uses a network of 
space-based and ground-based sensors; airborne radars, fighters, and 
helicopters; and ground-based air defense systems to detect, intercept, 
and, if necessary, engage air domain threats to North America.
   The May 2006 renewal of the North American Aerospace Defense Command 
Agreement added a maritime warning mission to the slate of 
responsibilities of the Command, which entails a shared awareness and 
understanding of the ongoing activities conducted in United States and 
Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas, and inland waterways.
   The North American Aerospace Defense Command provides continuous 
surveillance and defense of North American airspace from further 
airborne aggression or attack, as occurred on September 11, 2001, 
through the ongoing Operation NOBLE EAGLE mission. The North American 
Aerospace Defense Command will continue to evolve to address the ever-
changing nature of the threats to North America and adapt to future 
shared security interests.
   The outstanding service of United States and Canadian service 
members from Active Duty and Reserve Component forces and civilians 
serving at the North American Aerospace Defense Command is central to 
the ability of North America to confront and successfully defeat 
aerospace threats of the 21st century. The continuation of this 
successful relationship between the United States and Canada through 
the North American Aerospace Defense Command is paramount to the future 
security of the people of the United States and Canada.
   Today, we therefore recognize the contributions made by the North 
American Aerospace Defense Command to the security of North America, 
commemorating 60 years of excellence and distinctive service by the men 
and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, reaffirming 
the critical missions of the North American Aerospace Defense Command 
headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 
and supporting the role of the North American Aerospace Defense Command 
in providing binational defense of the United States and Canada in the 
21st century.

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