[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 149--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT CONGRESS 
  SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT II ATTACK AIRCRAFT 
         PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE WARTHOG AND A-10C OR OA-10C

  Mr. KELLY (for himself, Mr. Blunt, and Ms. Sinema) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                              S. Res. 149

       Whereas the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft (referred 
     to in this preamble as the ``A-10'')--
       (1) has seen action in every major United States Military 
     conflict since the first production A-10 was delivered to 
     Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in October 1975; and
       (2) since that time, has received several upgrades that are 
     reflected in the 281 A-10s in service as of the date of 
     adoption of this resolution;
       Whereas, since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the A-10 has 
     become a preferred close air support platform for ground 
     troops, striking fear in the enemies of the United States and 
     inspiring pride in the members of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas the A-10, which has been the backbone of the close 
     air support mission of the Air Force for more than 40 years, 
     has proven to be a highly accurate, mobile, and durable 
     weapons-delivery platform that can be used against all ground 
     targets;
       Whereas the A-10 supports close air support with a variety 
     of forward-firing, free-fall, and precision-guided munitions;
       Whereas the A-10 is able to perform combat search and 
     rescue, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, suppression 
     of enemy air defenses, special operations forces support, and 
     countersea operations in low-threat and high-threat 
     environments, day or night;
       Whereas the A-10 provides the Air Force with an extensive 
     ability to survey the battlefield and then fix, engage, 
     target, and destroy a wide range of mobile and fixed targets 
     as an arsenal aircraft, including tanks and other highly 
     armored vehicles in quantity;
       Whereas the A-10 was specifically designed with protection 
     from small-arms fire, including self-sealing fuel tanks, 
     redundant flight controls, and a titanium cockpit tub, which 
     has proven vital to the safe return of pilots despite heavy 
     damage from enemy ground fire;
       Whereas the A-10 has the lowest rate of friendly fire 
     incidents of any combat fighter or bomber;
       Whereas the A-10 has one of the largest carrying capacities 
     for a fighter-type aircraft and can carry a wide range of 
     munitions and electronic countermeasures without sacrificing 
     air-to-ground capabilities;
       Whereas the close air support provided by the A-10, which 
     has proven invaluable on the battlefield, is better than the 
     close air support provided by any other fighter aircraft 
     because--
       (1) the A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air 
     speeds and altitudes; and
       (2) the close air support provided by the A-10 is simple 
     and effective;
       Whereas the slower airspeeds of the A-10 enable longer 
     loiter times, increasing support to troops in contact and 
     battlefield coverage;
       Whereas, of all combat planes in the arsenal of the United 
     States, the A-10 is the least expensive to operate and 
     purchase;
       Whereas, while the A-10 flew only 30 percent of the total 
     sorties of the Air Force during Operation Desert Storm in 
     1991, these aircraft achieved more than half of the confirmed 
     Iraqi equipment losses and fired 90 percent of the precision-
     guided Maverick missiles;
       Whereas, during Operation Allied Force in 1999--
       (1) A-10s destroyed more field-deployed Serbian weaponry 
     than any other allied weapon system; and
       (2) combat search and rescue support from the A-10 was 100 
     percent effective, successfully rescuing 1 F-117 pilot and 1 
     F-16CG pilot;
       Whereas, during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the A-10 flew 32 percent of 
     the combat sorties in both theaters, and from 2006 to late 
     2013, the A-10 flew 19 percent of close air operations in 
     Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas the A-10 is an effective close air support platform 
     to counter violent extremist organizations, including the 
     Islamic State in Iraq and Syria;
       Whereas the continuing demands for close air support in 
     Iraq and Afghanistan keep the A-10 a relevant platform, but 
     one that requires upgrades;
       Whereas, if the A-10 is removed from service, certain gaps 
     in responsive close air support, forward air controller, air 
     interdiction, strike control and reconnaissance, and combat 
     search and rescue support could widen;
       Whereas the A-10 can be serviced and operated with high 
     sortie rates from austere bases with limited facilities or 
     logistical support near battle areas, including unprepared 
     dirt, grass, and narrow road runways, and from airfields that 
     are too short or rough to handle fast jets;
       Whereas global power is essential to preserving global 
     security and stability, and the A-10 is essential to ensuring 
     that the United States is able to continue providing 
     unmatched airpower, to gain and maintain air superiority, and 
     to extend its global reach;
       Whereas the A-10 program supports the Air Force, including 
     the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve;
       Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the 
     A-10 is flying in operational combat squadrons at--
       (1) Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona;
       (2) Eglin Air Force Base, Florida;
       (3) Moody Air Force Base, Georgia;
       (4) Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Idaho;
       (5) Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana;
       (6) Warfield Air National Guard Base, Maryland;
       (7) Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan;
       (8) Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri;
       (9) Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; and
       (10) Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea;
       Whereas the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 
     with an inventory of 84 A-10s--
       (1) has deployed 12 times since September 11, 2001, 
     primarily in support of troops on the ground; and
       (2) is responsible for training all A-10 pilots;
       Whereas the 175th Wing at Warfield Air National Guard Base, 
     with an inventory of 21 A-10s, has deployed 6 times since 
     September 11, 2001, primarily in support of troops on the 
     ground; and
       Whereas the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, 
     with an inventory of 27 A-10s, has deployed 9 times since 
     September 11, 2001, primarily in support of troops on the 
     ground: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress 
     should continue to support the A-10 Thunderbolt II program in 
     future fiscal years because--
       (1) continued support for the A-10 Thunderbolt II program 
     is imperative to the national security of the United States; 
     and
       (2) the United States cannot afford to risk its national 
     security, or the national security of its allies, by allowing 
     that program to fall short of its vital mission.

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