[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 162 (Monday, October 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6414-S6415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 663--RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST 
    DELIVERY OF THE SIKORSKY UH-60 BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER TO THE ARMY

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Nelson) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 663

       Whereas, on March 5, 1923, Sikorsky was founded by aircraft 
     engineer Igor Sikorsky, an immigrant to the United States who 
     was born in Kiev, Ukraine;
       Whereas, in 1955, Sikorsky opened its doors in Stratford, 
     Connecticut;
       Whereas the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was designed to be 
     the primary medium-lift helicopter for the Army, with 
     revolutionary design features for combat helicopters, 
     including--
       (1) the ability to absorb high-impact velocities by means 
     of--
        (A) a self-sealing fuel system;
        (B) crash-resistant stroking crew seats; and
        (C) high energy-absorbing landing gear;
       (2) low detectability;
       (3) highly capable nap-of-the-earth flight;
       (4) tolerance to small arms fire up to medium-caliber 
     projectiles;
       (5) hardened flight controls; and
       (6) redundant avionics and hydraulic systems;
       Whereas the primary mission of the UH-60 Black Hawk 
     helicopter is as a troop carrier and a logistical support 
     aircraft for air assault missions, but the aircraft may be 
     outfitted to execute medical and casualty evacuation, search 
     and rescue, command and control, armed escort, electronic 
     warfare, external lift, firefighting, and executive transport 
     or VIP missions;
       Whereas, on October 31, 1978, the first production UH-60 
     Black Hawk helicopter was delivered to the Army, and 2018 
     marks the 40th anniversary of that historic event;
       Whereas, beginning in 1976 and ending in 1989, the UH-60A 
     model Black Hawk was in uninterrupted production;
       Whereas the UH-60A model Black Hawk was replaced at the end 
     of the 1980s by the more powerful UH-60L model Black Hawk, 
     which was replaced by the even more advanced UH-60M model 
     Black Hawk in 2007;
       Whereas, since 1978, Sikorsky has delivered more than 2,300 
     UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to the Army, making the UH-60 
     Black Hawk helicopter the backbone of Army aviation;

[[Page S6415]]

       Whereas, as of April 2018, more than 4,000 H-60 Black Hawk 
     helicopters of all models are in service worldwide in all 
     branches of the Armed Forces and the armed forces of 28 other 
     countries;
       Whereas, as of April 2018, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters 
     have flown nearly 10,000,000 flight hours, more than 
     2,000,000 of which have been in combat;
       Whereas the 1,000th UH-60M model Black Hawk helicopter will 
     be delivered in October 2018, which highlights the importance 
     that warfighters of the United States place in this venerable 
     aircraft;
       Whereas, for 40 years since 1978, the remarkable UH-60 
     Black Hawk helicopter has--
       (1) fought its way in and out of countless combat zones to 
     deliver and extract troops;
       (2) saved thousands of lives as a medical or casualty 
     evacuation platform;
       (3) provided critical supplies to troops;
       (4) delivered emergency supplies during natural disasters 
     and humanitarian crises; and
       (5) performed as an aerial firefighter and border 
     patroller;
       Whereas approximately 4,000 workers in the United States 
     support the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter program, including in 
     roles of final assembly, paint, engineering, finance, program 
     management, and contracts;
       Whereas the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter program has 
     significant presence throughout the United States, including 
     in the States of Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, 
     Georgia, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and 
     Virginia and;
       Whereas Sikorsky is committed to the modernization and 
     sustainment of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter program since 
     the Army plans to operate the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter 
     into the 2070s: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the first delivery 
     of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to the Army;
       (2) commends Sikorsky for its commitment to--
       (A) developing premier rotorcraft such as the UH-60 Black 
     Hawk helicopter; and
       (B) the modernization and sustainment of the UH-60 Black 
     Hawk helicopter into the 2070s; and
       (3) pledges robust and continued congressional support for 
     the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

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