[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11165-11166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           49TH FIGHTER WING

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 
outstanding men and women of the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air 
Force Base in New Mexico.

[[Page 11166]]

  The 49th has received a deployment order to the Western Pacific 
region in support of our national defense objectives.
  Around 250 personnel from Holloman, along with approximately 15 F-
117A Nighthawks, are preparing to depart for the Republic of Korea. 
Their 4-month deployment is part of an ongoing measure to maintain a 
credible deterrent posture and presence in the region and demonstrates 
the continued U.S. commitment towards fulfilling security 
responsibilities throughout the Western Pacific.
  The F-117A, and the personnel that fly and maintain them, continue to 
be vital to our national security strategy. This is why I am so pleased 
the Senate Armed Services Committee included my bill to restrict 
retirement of any Nighthawks in fiscal year 2006 in the committee 
passed bill.
  We must maintain the ability to deliver precision munitions onto time 
sensitive, high value targets, wherever and whenever the need arises. 
And I am so proud of the men and women from New Mexico that take on 
this very dangerous but important mission in service to their country. 
They are all superstars that deserve the heartfelt appreciation of a 
grateful Nation.

                          ____________________