[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H5189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

  (Mr. NUNN of Iowa asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your combat service 
and my combat service, but, most importantly, the combat service of 
those currently on the front line.
  As a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a colonel, I respect 
America's strength and that it starts at home.
  The National Defense Authorization Act of 2027 has been delivered in 
a bipartisan way, and I am proud to share that the NDAA passed 
yesterday with eight of my amendments, one of the most of any Member of 
Congress, and in a bipartisan fashion.
  They included enhancing our Air National Guard capabilities, 
countering Chinese aggression, rebuilding our defense arsenal, 
supporting our servicemembers' health, pay, and support increases for 
our veterans and our members.
  However, I am most proud of my amendment No. 930, which directs the 
Air Force to identify bases that already have runways and technical 
expertise to support the next generation of aircraft but currently lack 
a permanent flying mission.
  The 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines is a perfect example. The 132nd 
has a proud history as the premier flying unit in our Nation's history 
for F-16s, both training and operational.
  Together, the F-16 and the 132nd have built a world-class drone, 
cyber, and intelligence operation mission while still having access to 
a fully operational runway. This gives the 132nd a rare winning 
combination of top-tier expertise, a secure facility, and an active 
runway.
  I thank all of my friends at the Iowa Air National Guard.

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