[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24570-24577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS AN 
                      INDEPENDENT MILITARY SERVICE

  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 207) recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military 
service.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 207

       Whereas President Harry S. Truman signed the National 
     Security Act of 1947 on July 26, 1947, to realign and 
     reorganize the Armed Forces and to create a separate 
     Department of the Air Force from the existing military 
     services;
       Whereas the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted on 
     September 18, 1947;
       Whereas the Aeronautical Division of the United States Army 
     Signal Corps, consisting of one officer and two enlisted men, 
     began operation under the command of Captain Charles DeForest 
     Chandler on August 1, 1907, with the responsibility for ``all 
     matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines, and 
     all kindred subjects'';
       Whereas in 1908, the Department of War contracted with the 
     Wright brothers to build one heavier-than-air flying machine 
     for the United States Army, and accepted the Wright Military 
     Flyer, the world's first military airplane, in 1909;
       Whereas United States pilots, flying with both allied air 
     forces and with the Army Air Service, performed admirably in 
     the course of World War I, participating in pursuit, 
     observation, and day and night bombing missions;
       Whereas pioneering aviators of the United States, including 
     Mason M. Patrick, William ``Billy'' Mitchell, Benjamin D. 
     Foulois, Frank M. Andrews, Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, James 
     ``Jimmy'' H. Doolittle, and Edward ``Eddie'' Rickenbacker, 
     were among the first to recognize the military potential of 
     air power and courageously forged the foundations for the 
     creation of an independent arm for air forces in the United 
     States in the decades following World War I;
       Whereas on June 20, 1941, the Department of War created the 
     Army Air Forces (AAF) as its aviation element and shortly 
     thereafter the Department of War made the AAF co-equal to the 
     Army Ground Forces;
       Whereas General Henry H. ``Hap'' Arnold drew upon the 
     industrial prowess and human resources of the United States 
     to transform the Army Air Corps from a force of 22,400 men 
     and 2,402 aircraft in 1939 to a peak wartime strength of 2.4 
     million personnel and 79,908 aircraft;
       Whereas the standard for courage, flexibility, and 
     intrepidity in combat was established for all Airmen during 
     the first aerial raid in the Pacific Theater on April 18, 
     1942, when Lieutenant Colonel James ``Jimmy'' H. Doolittle 
     led 16 North American B-25 Mitchell bombers in a joint 
     operation from the deck of the naval carrier USS Hornet to 
     strike the Japanese mainland in response to the Japanese 
     attack on Pearl Harbor;
       Whereas President Harry S. Truman supported organizing air 
     power as an equal arm of the military forces of the United 
     States, writing on December 19, 1945, that air power had 
     developed so that the responsibilities and contributions to 
     military strategic planning of air power equaled those of 
     land and sea power;
       Whereas on September 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington became 
     the first Secretary of the newly formed and independent 
     United States Air Force (USAF), and on September 26, 1947, 
     General Carl A. Spaatz became the first Chief of Staff of the 
     USAF;
       Whereas the Air National Guard was also created by the 
     National Security Act of 1947 and has played a vital role in 
     guarding the United States and defending freedom in nearly 
     every major conflict and contingency since its inception;
       Whereas on October 14, 1947, the USAF demonstrated its 
     historic and ongoing commitment to technological innovation 
     when Captain Charles ``Chuck'' Yeager piloted the X-1 
     developmental rocket plane to a speed of Mach 1.07, becoming 
     the first flyer to break the sound barrier in a powered 
     aircraft in level flight;
       Whereas the USAF Reserve, created April 14, 1948, is 
     comprised of Citizen Airmen who steadfastly sacrifice 
     personal fortune and family comfort in order to serve as 
     unrivaled wingmen of the active duty USAF in every 
     deployment, mission, and battlefield around the globe;
       Whereas the USAF operated the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 
     1949 to provide humanitarian relief to post-war Germany and 
     has established a tradition of humanitarian assistance in 
     responding to natural disasters and needs across the world;
       Whereas the USAF announced a policy of racial integration 
     in the ranks of the USAF on April 26, 1948, 3 months prior to 
     a Presidential mandate to integrate all military services;
       Whereas in the early years of the Cold War, the USAF's 
     arsenal of bombers, such as the

[[Page 24571]]

     long-range Convair B-58 Hustler and B-36 Peacemaker, and the 
     Boeing B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress, under the 
     command of General Curtis LeMay served as the United States' 
     preeminent deterrent against Soviet Union forces and were 
     later augmented by the development and deployment of medium 
     range and intercontinental ballistic missiles, such as the 
     Titan and Minuteman developed by General Bernard A. 
     Schriever;
       Whereas the USAF, employing the first large-scale combat 
     use of jet aircraft, helped to establish air superiority over 
     the Korean peninsula, protected ground forces of the United 
     Nations with close air support, and interdicted enemy 
     reinforcements and supplies during the conflict in Korea;
       Whereas after the development of launch vehicles and 
     orbital satellites, the mission of the USAF expanded into 
     space and today provides exceptional real-time global 
     communications, environmental monitoring, navigation, 
     precision timing, missile warning, nuclear deterrence, and 
     space surveillance;
       Whereas USAF Airmen have contributed to the manned space 
     program of the United States since the program's inception 
     and throughout the program's development at the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration by dedicating themselves 
     wholly to space exploration despite the risks of exploration;
       Whereas the USAF engaged in a limited campaign of air power 
     to assist the South Vietnamese government in countering the 
     communist Viet Cong guerillas during the Vietnam War and 
     fought to disrupt supply lines, halt enemy ground offensives, 
     and protect United States and Allied forces;
       Whereas Airmen were imprisoned and tortured during the 
     Vietnam War and, in the valiant tradition of Airmen held 
     captive in previous conflicts, continued serving the United 
     States with honor and dignity under the most inhumane 
     circumstances;
       Whereas, in recent decades, the USAF and coalition partners 
     of the United States have supported successful actions in 
     Panama, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 
     many other locations around the globe;
       Whereas Pacific Air Forces, along with Asia-Pacific 
     partners of the United States, ensure peace and advance 
     freedom from the west coast of the United States to the east 
     coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic, 
     covering more than 100 million square miles and the homes of 
     2 billion people in 44 countries;
       Whereas the United States Air Forces in Europe, along with 
     European partners of the United States, have shaped the 
     history of Europe from World War II, the Cold War, Operation 
     Deliberate Force, and Operation Allied Force to today's 
     operations, and secured stability and ensured freedom's 
     future in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia;
       Whereas, for 17 consecutive years beginning with 1990, 
     Airmen have been engaged in full-time combat operations 
     ranging from Desert Shield to Iraqi Freedom, and have shown 
     themselves to be an expeditionary air and space force of 
     outstanding capability ready to fight and win wars of the 
     United States when and where Airmen are called upon to do so;
       Whereas the USAF is steadfast in its commitment to field a 
     world-class, expeditionary air force by recruiting, training, 
     and educating its Total Force of active duty, Air National 
     Guard, Air Force Reserve, and civilian personnel;
       Whereas the USAF is a trustworthy steward of resources, 
     developing and applying technology, managing professional 
     acquisition programs, and maintaining exacting test, 
     evaluation, and sustainment criteria for all USAF weapon 
     systems throughout such weapon systems' life cycles;
       Whereas, when terrorists attacked the United States on 
     September 11, 2001, USAF fighter and air refueling aircraft 
     took to the skies to fly combat air patrols over major United 
     States cities and protect families, friends, and neighbors of 
     people of the United States from further attack;
       Whereas, on December 7, 2005, the USAF modified its mission 
     statement to include flying and fighting in cyberspace and 
     prioritized the development, maintenance, and sustainment of 
     war fighting capabilities to deliver unrestricted access to 
     cyberspace and defend the United States and its global 
     interests;
       Whereas Airmen around the world are committed to fighting 
     and winning the Global War on Terror and have flown more than 
     430,000 sorties to precisely target and engage insurgents who 
     attempt to violently disrupt rebuilding in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan;
       Whereas talented and dedicated Airmen will meet the future 
     challenges of an ever-changing world with strength and 
     resolve;
       Whereas the USAF, together with its joint partners, will 
     continue to be the United States' leading edge in the ongoing 
     fight to ensure the safety and security of the United States; 
     and
       Whereas during the past 60 years, the USAF has repeatedly 
     proved its value to the Nation, fulfilling its critical role 
     in national defense, and protecting peace, liberty, and 
     freedom throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress remembers, honors, and commends 
     the achievements of the United States Air Force in serving 
     and defending the United States on the 60th anniversary of 
     the creation of the United States Air Force as an independent 
     military service.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
207, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as 
an independent military service. I thank my colleague from New Mexico, 
Heather Wilson, in particular, for her partnership and collaboration in 
helping to bring this bipartisan measure before the House. I want also 
to recognize the outstanding leadership of the cochairs of the Air 
Force Caucus, Cliff Stearns of Florida, Sam Johnson of Texas, and Jim 
Marshall of Georgia for their participation.
  Sixty years ago in July, President Truman and Congress distilled the 
lessons learned in World War II into landmark legislation known as the 
National Security Act of 1947. On September 18, the Armed Forces were 
reorganized under a Department of Defense, and the Air Force was 
established as a military department coequal to the Departments of the 
Army and the Navy.
  The question of whether air forces should be a service on their own 
separate from the ground forces arose long before it was resolved in 
the National Security Act of 1947. Over a period of 40 years, airmen 
earned that recognition, beginning with the Aeronautical Division's 
earliest exploits in 1907, followed by the derring-do of the Army Air 
Service in World War I, and then by the superior performance of the 
Army Air Corps, later the Army Air Forces, in World War II. America's 
airmen performed well; so well, in fact, that when battles were fought 
in the air, they were won decisively, making air superiority a standing 
assumption.
  This tradition started during World War II, with aviators like 
General Doolittle. During the war in North Africa and Europe, General 
Eisenhower and General Spaatz, as commander of the Army Air Forces, 
worked well together. General Eisenhower came to appreciate the 
capabilities of air power and the role of the Air Force in achieving 
victory. He called General Spaatz, ``the best operational airman in the 
world,'' and became persuaded that the Air Force should exist alongside 
and equal to the Army and the Navy. Ike compared this arrangement to a 
three-legged stool, where each leg is essential to the whole. It's a 
principle alive, well, and working today.
  Since its origin, the Air Force has stayed abreast of our national 
security requirements, adding missiles to aircraft, and through a long 
cold war, deterring any attack upon our country. The Air Force is 
typically called when we need to gain air superiority with troops and 
materiel, when and wherever the need arises. Its airlift and tanker 
capabilities give us the advantage of remote presence. Its satellites 
supply us with surveillance and communication capabilities that are the 
gold standard, surpassing anything that any other country in the world 
possesses. Not only has the Air Force achieved a technical overmatch 
against our adversaries in the air, but in space and cyberspace as 
well.
  In today's Air Force, over 700,000 ``Total Force Airmen'' are at work 
as we speak, exercising vigilance, reach, and power around the world. 
They are operating intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft and 
spacecraft, supplying early warning, real-time intelligence, and 
situational awareness to the war fighters on the ground. They are a 
critical presence in the battle space of Afghanistan and Iraq. They are 
lifting cargo and passengers, and using refueling assets to build air 
bridges, projecting power, and sustaining the fight.
  Although the hardware tends to get the headlines, it is the people 
who make it work and who make the Air Force what it is. When General 
Horner came home from the Persian Gulf in 1991, I asked him who were 
the unsung

[[Page 24572]]

heroes, and he answered without hesitation, ``Well, for one, it is our 
NCOs; their quality has literally gone out of sight.'' I was reminded 
of what General Horner said when I was at Shaw Air Force Base not long 
ago and met with the Fighting 20th and its wing commander, Colonel 
Post, along with airmen and women, many of them about to deploy. They 
will be part of some 35,000 other airmen deployed around the globe. 
Because of them and others like them, we have the best Air Force in the 
world, bar none.
  This concurrent resolution is our way, as Members of Congress and 
citizens of this Nation, of expressing our appreciation, of recognizing 
the United States Air Force, its leaders and airmen, for consistently 
proving their worth to our Nation and helping make this the land of the 
free and the home of the brave.
  Let me conclude with the resolving clause: That Congress remembers, 
honors, and commends the achievements of the United States Air Force in 
serving and defending our country on the 60th anniversary of the 
creation of the United States Air Force as an independent military 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent the Third District of Ohio, which includes 
both the historic birthplace of aviation, home of the Wright brothers, 
as well as the home of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and I am 
honored to speak today in favor of H. Con. Res. 207.
  The bill remembers, honors, and commends the achievements of the 
United States Air Force in serving and defending the United States on 
this 60th anniversary of the creation of the United States Air Force as 
an independent military service.
  I would like to also recognize and thank my colleagues Mr. Spratt 
from South Carolina and Mrs. Wilson from New Mexico for their efforts 
in writing this bill and ushering it to the floor.
  The United States Air Force is the largest modern Air Force in the 
world, with over 7,000 aircraft in service and about 358,600 men and 
women on active duty. The numerous airmen, technicians, and support 
staff through the years have served in the Air Force with honor, 
courage, and dignity.
  Throughout history, the Air Force has adapted and designed new 
aircraft to meet the threats faced by the military, such as designing 
long-range bombers, more advanced tactical fighters, and eventually 
stealth aircraft. The humanitarian operations in Berlin after World War 
II, the Berlin Airlift, would not have happened was it not for the 
accuracy and dedication of the pilots of the Air Force. Today, the 
United States Air Force continues to be on the cutting edge of 
technology, pushing the envelope of aircraft and pilot to new bounds.

                              {time}  1615

  The F-22A and F-35 are the world's only fifth-generation fighters.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the 60th anniversary of 
the Air Force for its impact that it has had on my community of Dayton, 
Ohio. Wright Patterson Air Force Base in my district is the largest 
stand-alone base in the world, as well as being the home to the 
National Museum of the United States Air Force. Wright Pat has a strong 
tradition as a research and development hub, which started with Wright 
Pat when it was known as Huffman Prairie. Huffman Prairie is the 
location where the Wright brothers developed the first practical 
airplane that was able to sustain flight. During the early years of 
flight, the Wright brothers used Huffman Prairie as a research and 
development facility. The tradition continues, as the research 
conducted at Wright Pat today will provide U.S. troops with advantages 
on the battlefields of tomorrow. For example, the F-22A fighter, 
considered the most advanced fighting plane ever built, was 
significantly developed, in part, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
  Again, I am honored to recognize the 60th anniversary of the United 
States Air Force and all of those who have served, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, we have a long list of cosponsors on this 
side of the aisle for this resolution, and I had a long list of 
potential speakers; but due to the rearrangement of resolutions, none 
is here now; and I would simply yield to the gentleman from Ohio so 
that he can further yield his time. And if you need further time on our 
side, we will be glad to grant it as well.
  I reserve the balance of my time, of course.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Dr. Gingrey of Georgia.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
207, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as 
an independent military service, joining my colleague, the mayor of 
Dayton, and my colleague on the House Armed Services Committee.
  Many Americans may not realize that for the first 40 years of its 
existence, the United States Air Force was actually a department of the 
Army. It was not until President Harry Truman signed the National 
Security Act of 1947 that the Air Force became an independent military 
service and W. Stuart Symington became the first Secretary of the Air 
Force, later a United States Senator.
  Since 1947, the Air Force has been an integral part of the United 
States military. Over the last 15 years the United States Air Force has 
been in continuous combat. Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm 
featured a full spectrum of Air Force capabilities. During the so-
called ``peacekeeping missions'' in Somalia, Haiti and Kosovo, the Air 
Force contributed logistical and operational support and demonstrated 
its ability to achieve mission objectives without the use of ground 
forces.
  In Georgia's 11th Congressional District, Mr. Speaker, Dobbins Air 
Reserve Base has contributed to the success of the Air Force by 
providing key training of pilots and support personnel on both the C-
130 and the C-5 platforms. In addition to Dobbins' training 
capabilities, FEMA's Federal Incident Response Team Atlanta is staged 
at Dobbins, and it mobilizes throughout the Southeast to disasters, 
both natural and manmade.
  Dobbins also plays a role in the continued air dominance of the 
United States as the initial testing grounds for the F-22 Raptor 
stealth fighter.
  Never before has the United States' ability to project military power 
depended so heavily on air and space capabilities. Whether in a leading 
role or a support role, the United States Air Force has proved its 
unsurpassed airspace and cyberspace capabilities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to remember the importance of a 
strong national defense and certainly vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 
207.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Mrs. Wilson of New 
Mexico.
  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the important thing about 
this resolution, to me, is that the Air Force and celebrating its 
anniversary is about the people who have served, those who've worn the 
uniform.
  In 1916, at the age of 17, my grandfather lied about his age and 
joined the Royal Flying Corps. He flew DH-7s and DH-9s and did sub 
search in the Irish Sea during World War I.
  And after the First World War, there weren't many jobs to be had, so 
he came to America in 1922 and became a barnstormer in the early days 
of civil aviation, really the heyday of civil aviation, as new 
airplanes, new records, new payloads for speed and distance were being 
set across America.
  In World War II, he towed targets and ferried parts and developed a 
system to Medivac soldiers out of the China, Burma, India theater of 
operations. Then it was B-72s and B-25s, P-38s and Corsairs.
  In 1943, as a boy of 13, my father started taking flying lessons, 
traded them for time as a line boy down at the airport. And after World 
War II, and before Korea, my dad joined the Army

[[Page 24573]]

Air Corps, which while he was in service became the United States Air 
Force. He was a crew chief at Walker Field in Roswell, New Mexico, 
taking care of, I think, F-86s at that time, although the hot plane was 
the F-100.
  He left the Air Force and came home to be a commercial pilot. He 
taught my mom to fly. And in our 2-bedroom house we had 3 kids, 2 dogs, 
a den that was full of airplane.
  In 1976, when I was a junior in high school, I was in my mother's 
bedroom when there was a television story on her little black and white 
portable TV that said that the Air Force Academy was opening its doors 
to women.
  Well, my grandfather had had 2 sons, 5 grandsons and me. I went to 
see him and told him I was thinking about maybe going to the Air Force 
Academy, and he said, well, I flew with some women in World War II and 
they were pretty good sticks, so I guess that'd be okay.
  My grandfather started to fly shortly after the Wright brothers first 
took to the air, and he lived to see a man walk on the Moon. It has 
been a remarkable century of aviation, and the Air Force has been part 
of it.
  Next year, after 33 years of service, active, Guard and Reserve, my 
husband will retire from the United States Air Force.
  Generations have been inspired and protected by air warriors who 
broke the sound barrier, who tested rocket sleds, who trained as 
astronauts, who became aces and supported those who were, names we know 
like Billie Mitchell and Jimmy Doolittle, Lance Sijan, Hap Arnold, Bud 
Day, Clarence Kelly Johnson, and names we don't know of airmen and 
women called to serve and inspired by the thrill of flight.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, in the interest of jointness, I have now the 
pleasure of recognizing and yielding 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak), who is a retired naval admiral.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. This 
past weekend I had the opportunity with an 82-year-old airman to sit 
down with him and awarded him, after some work had been done, with the 
Distinguished Flying Cross. And he so proudly opened up his charts and 
the maps that he had flown over Europe back in World War II.
  And as a Navy officer, I came to realize the quite close bond we had 
as he proudly then pointed to his log book and said, this was the ship, 
as they called their aircraft, that we were on during those missions.
  But what I want to speak about is that wonderful passage in the book 
by Tom Wolf, ``The Right Stuff.'' In it, as he talks about aviators, he 
spoke about how they take off and they fly, and often, particularly as 
the 50s, 60s and 70s occurred, they would often find themselves, all of 
a sudden, at some critical moment, where through their skill, their 
determination they managed to pull themselves out of a dangerous 
situation at the last yawing moment.
  But then Tom Wolf went on and he said that's not really the key to 
these men and women. He said, then they took off again the next day and 
did the same thing, and the next day and the next day, and every day 
after that, just like clawing up a pyramid, never knowing each time 
whether they would or would not be able to pull it out at the last 
crying moment. That, Tom Wolf said, is the right stuff.
  So I rise in commemoration of the Air Force and in a very joint way 
who has done so much for the security of our Nation. Without a 
question, they have the right stuff.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Mr. Lamborn from 
Colorado.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution 
and to honor the men and women of the United States Air Force who, 
today, celebrate 60 years of dedicated service. On a cold December day 
in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers achieved the 
world's first powered flight which lasted merely 59 seconds. Today our 
Air Force possesses an extraordinary global reach and even beyond into 
space thanks to the men and women who have served or are serving in the 
Air Force.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Air Force has had a long and proud 
tradition of defending our Nation, as well as being a worldwide leader 
in aeronautical innovation. Since its early days, the Air Force has 
been in every military operation, from World War I to our present 
struggle in the global war on terror.
  My father, who now is 88 years old, fought in World War II as part of 
what was then the Army Air Corps.
  I am proud to have the Air Force Academy, Schriever Air Force Base 
and Peterson Air Force Base all located in the 5th District of 
Colorado. Schriever Air Force Base is home to the 50th Space Wing, 
which is one of the world's best space command and control teams, 
delivering combat power from space for America and its allies. At 
Peterson Air Force Base, we have the 21st Space Wing, the Air Force's 
only organization providing missile warning and space control to 
commanders and combat forces worldwide.
  Finally, Colorado Springs has the highly regarded United States Air 
Force Academy, whose mission is to educate, train and inspire men and 
women to become officers of character motivated to lead the United 
States Air Force in service to our Nation.
  For the past 60 years, Mr. Speaker, the strength, preparedness, and 
innovative superior air power of the United States Air Force has helped 
ensure peace in the United States and throughout the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the United States Air Force today and its airmen 
and women for 60 years of service to our great Nation.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests at this time on this 
side. I therefore yield to the gentleman. If you need some of my time, 
I will gladly yield it.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to Mr. Stearns of 
Florida.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. And 
as a former Air Force officer and veteran and one of the co-founders of 
the House of Representatives Air Force Caucus, I know firsthand how the 
Air Force provides our Nation a unique military advantage, obviously, 
indispensable in war and peace, to know what is happening around the 
globe, to lend a hand with humanitarian assistance, to deter nations 
that would use aggression to bully their neighbors, and to defend our 
Nation when we are attacked and dealt a decisive blow to our foes.
  But I bring to your attention, my colleagues, something that perhaps 
would not be talked about, that this supremacy could be threatened. And 
so I wish to, in this short amount of time talk about, although the Air 
Force has an overwhelming advantage right now, we are now at a point 
where a lot of the equipment is growing old.
  Our Air Force flies the oldest aircraft that we have ever had to 
support, and they will be getting older and more costly to maintain if 
nothing is done to reverse this trend.
  Both our B-52s, our KC-135s average 46 years old today. In 2030 
they'll be 68 years old. Our A-10s average 26 years old today. In 2030 
they'll be almost 50 years old. Though the Air Force is the youngest 
service, it has the most to lose in the fight against complacency.
  Our Air Force is constantly in demand by combat commanders around the 
globe, but the size of our Air Force is the smallest it's ever been in 
decades. The Air Force had approximately 4,400 fighters in 1985. Today 
we have 2,500.

                              {time}  1630

  In 2030 it will have fewer than 1,400. Despite technological 
improvements, the Air Force cannot fulfill its global missions without 
sufficient force structure. Aircraft simply cannot be in two places at 
once, whether in Korea or Afghanistan or above New York City.
  So for all of its immense accomplishments, the Air Force still faces 
formidable challenges as it enters the seventh year of the global war 
on terrorism. Losing our airpower edge is not a responsible option. We 
must ensure this does not happen.
  In closing, let me leave you with the words of one of the Air Force 
founders,

[[Page 24574]]

Five-Star General Hap Arnold. His words still ring true today and are 
especially poignant as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United 
States Air Force:
  ``Our Air Force belongs to those who come from ranks of labor, 
management, the farms, the stores, the professions, and colleges and 
legislative halls . . . Air power will always be the business of every 
American citizen.''
  I rise today to honor and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 
United States Air Force. The Air Force is the world's dominant source 
of air and space power. America can rightly claim to be the greatest 
military power--a power that affords us prosperity and security. This 
status is due in no small part to our overwhelming supremacy in air and 
space. However, what is most impressive is the integrity and dedication 
of the men and women of the Air Force who work hard everyday to ensure 
air supremacy.
  The Air Force is the youngest of our Nation's military branches. It 
is able to adapt in time and space by changing position. The effects 
the Air Force can achieve through perspective, range and endurance are 
those no other military instrument can execute. Our Nation's ability to 
gain an advantage over our enemies by exploiting air and space is 
unsurpassed.
  The overwhelming advantages afforded to our Nation by the Air Force 
can be lost through inattention to modernization or by under-funding 
force structure. We are now at a point, after 17 years of continuous 
combat--from Desert Storm, Bosnia and Kosovo to Iraq and Afghanistan 
today--where our Nation's continued superiority in air and space is at 
risk.
  Our Air Force flies the oldest aircraft that we have ever had to 
support--and they will be getting older and more costly to maintain if 
nothing is done to reverse the trend. Both our B-52s and KC-135s 
average 46 years old today; in 2030, they will average 68 years old. 
Our A-10s average 26 years old today; in 2030, they will average 49 
years old. Though the Air Force is the youngest service, it has the 
most to lose in the fight against complacency.
  Our Air Force is constantly in demand by combatant commanders around 
the globe but the size of our Air Force is the smallest it has been in 
decades. The Air Force had approximately 4,400 fighters in 1985, today 
we have around 2,500, and in 2030 it will have fewer than 1,400. 
Despite technological improvements, the Air Force cannot fulfill its 
global missions without sufficient force structure--aircraft simply 
cannot be in two places at once, whether in Korea and Afghanistan or 
above New York City.
  Never before has the Nation's ability to project military power 
depended so heavily on air and space capabilities. Whether it is the 
principal actor or a supporting force, the Air Force brings to the 
fight unsurpassed air, space, and cyberspace capabilities--adding 
strength, flexibility, and resilience to the joint force. In many 
cases, other U.S. military branches would not be able to carry out 
their missions without the Air Force.
  Much has changed over the years. The Air Force is flying unmanned 
aircraft over Iraq and Afghanistan controlled by airmen from bases in 
the United States and other remote locations around the world. 
Moreover, investments in air and space technologies have produced 
precision that would have been unimaginable even 15 years ago. Accuracy 
of weapons is now measured in mere feet from the target.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Conaway).
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Ohio and South 
Carolina.
  I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the United States 
Air Force as an independent military service and to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 207, a bill which acknowledges and commemorates 
this significant milestone in our country's history.
  From the days the sky was ruled by such pioneers of aviation as Eddie 
Rickenbacker and Hap Arnold, the United States Air Force has continued 
its commitment to fielding a world-class Air Force by recruiting, 
training, and educating its active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force 
Reserve, and civilian personnel.
  Over the past 60 years, the United States Air Force has repeatedly 
proved its value to the Nation by fulfilling its critical role in 
national defense and protecting liberty and humanity throughout the 
world.
  On September 11, 2001, the United States Air Force fighters took to 
the skies to fly combat patrols over major U.S. cities to protect our 
loved ones from further attack. Today, United States airmen continue 
their great service around the world to defend our liberties and 
freedoms in the global war on terror.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Goodfellow Air Force Base in San 
Angelo, Texas, a facility that's dedicated to training of intelligence 
specialists and firefighters. I'm proud to represent the folks who used 
to serve there, who serve there today, and who will serve this great 
Nation tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join with me and others in 
celebrating this anniversary by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Texas.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincerest 
birthday wishes to an American institution that has helped provide 
freedom and liberty for all of us that we enjoy today, and that is the 
Department of Air Force.
  It was 60 years ago, following the passage of the National Security 
Act of 1947, that W. Stuart Symington was sworn in as the Nation's 
first Secretary of the Air Force, chosen to lead an organization 
finally given its rightful place in the brand new Department of 
Defense. The Air Force has gone on to become one of the steadfast 
defenders on high, enabling us to live in relative peace and 
tranquility knowing that they are always there literally keeping a 
watchful eye on our Nation.
  Since its inception, the Department of the Air Force has been a 
global leader in perfecting and applying cutting-edge research and 
development. Whether it was the transition from the propeller to jet 
engines to the use of computer-aided weaponry incorporating satellite 
technology to today's use of unmanned aerial vehicles taking soldiers, 
marines, sailors, and airmen off the battlefield, the Air Force has 
always been the leader in the ``Revolution in Military Affairs.''
  Whether it's patrolling the desert skies during Operation Northern 
Watch or deterring looming Iraqi aggression during Operation Vigilant 
Warrior, both in the 1990s, the men and women of the Air Force are 
constantly reminded that peace is not always peaceful.
  Providing a multitude of services to their fellow warriors on the 
ground, along with dominating the skies against our enemies, they have 
played a critical role in not only defending America's interests abroad 
but being ambassadors of goodwill.
  Just ask the airmen who sit on constant alert in the Central Command 
ready to deliver relief aid, as they did last summer during the 
conflict between Lebanon and Israel, delivering more than 10 tons of 
food and supplies to the region. Foreign citizens and Americans alike 
were once again blessed by the humanitarian spirit of the Air Force.
  Today I rise not just as a proud American but as a Member of Congress 
who is blessed with the good fortune of representing the brave men and 
women of the 7th Bomb Wing and the mighty C-130 Hercules of the 317th 
Airlift Group at Dyess Air Force Base. Just last week I met with 
several of them before they deployed overseas, and I was swept away by 
their overwhelming courage and resounding spirit. Americans know that 
when airmen put on their flight suits, they are not just putting it on 
for themselves but for all Americans. They do it for others and they 
continue to do it so we can all live freely.
  In the relatively short time the Air Force has been in existence, its 
contributions to America's security have been historic. America owes 
the United States Air Force a debt of gratitude for all that they have 
given us and will continue to give us, without fear or hesitation. They 
are always the backbone of our projected forces.

[[Page 24575]]

  I wish them a very happy 60th birthday and best wishes for another 
successful 60 years.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, when the Wright brothers first accomplished flight, when 
they stretched out the wings of their airplane and began to fly and 
then returned to continue their work at Huffman Prairie in Dayton, 
Ohio, which later became Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, they could 
not have known the importance of their invention to preserving our 
freedoms and to preserving liberty. But they could imagine the bravery 
of the pilots that were to follow.
  With this resolution, we honor the men and women who have served in 
the United States Air Force.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Con. Res. 207, a resolution recognizing the 60th 
anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military 
service.
  I am honored that Edwards Air Force Base, home of the Air Force 
Flight Test Center, is located in my district, the 22nd District of 
California. I rise today to honor the men and women of the United 
States Air Force, especially those who have spent part or all of their 
careers in the pursuit of cutting edge flight technology at Edwards.
  The USAF was ``born'' in 1947, but as we all know, our military's 
efforts to explore air power began in the early part of the 20th 
century with the Wright Military Flyer. The area now known as Edwards 
joined the effort in 1933, when LTC Henry H. ``Hap'' Arnold of the Army 
Air Corps selected a site on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake for a bombing 
and gunnery range at a place called Muroc, a reversal of the last name 
of the Corum family, which had settled in the area in 1910.
  After World War II, Muroc Army Air Field was alive with activity on 
the X-plane programs, resulting in great successes such as the Bell X-
1, which broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, with Chuck Yeager 
at the controls. The base was renamed in 1949 after CPT Glen Edwards, 
who died in a crash of the YB-49, and the Air Force Flight Test Center 
was activated in 1951, the same year that the Air Force moved its test 
pilot school to Edwards. In the 1960s, the X-15 broke record after 
record for speed and altitude. Over the years, the Flight Test Center 
has tested and supported the development of virtually every aircraft 
system that has entered the Air Force inventory and has been involved 
in more major milestones in flight than any other comparable 
organization in the world. It has been on the cutting edge of every 
major development that has transformed the field of flight, from the 
first American jet plane to the current system-of-systems revolution.
  It is a pleasure to recognize and honor the hard work of the men and 
women of our United States Air Force on their 60th anniversary, 
although each day we should remember those who sacrifice in defense of 
our country. As the Air Force moves forward from its 60th year, we can 
look to the motto of the Air Force Flight Test Center--``Ad Inexplorata 
. . . Toward the Unexplored.''
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for this 
resolution recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force as an 
independent military service.
  Offutt Air Force Base is home to the 55th Wing, the Fightin' Fifty-
Fifth. Offutt's diverse missions and global responsibilities put it on 
the cutting edge of the new U.S. Air Force. There are approximately 
12,000 military and Federal employees representing all branches of the 
military that serve on or near Offutt AFB, which is located near the 
Missouri River just south of Omaha and is a major presence in my 
congressional district.
  Offut is also the home of STRATCOM, the global integrated force that 
is charged with the missions of space operations; information 
operations; integrated missile defense; global command and control; 
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; global strike; and 
strategic deterrence.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fifty-Fifth Wing operates a variety of aircraft to 
conduct operations from Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Kadena AB, Japan; RAF 
Mildenhall, United Kingdom; Souda Bay Naval Support Activity, Crete; 
and other locations around the world. It is the largest wing in Air 
Combat Command and the second largest in the Air Force.
  Air Combat Command is the principal provider of combat airpower that 
supports America's global national security strategy. It operates 
fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management and electronic-
combat aircraft. It also provides command, control, communications, 
intelligence systems, and information operations in support of the war 
on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Mr. Speaker, as the U.S. Air Force celebrates its 60th Anniversary, I 
want to join my colleagues in recognizing the many contributions it has 
made to the defense of our Nation.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H. Con. 
Res. 207--Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.
  I am honored to represent the men, women, and families that make up 
Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. They are the service 
men and women who represent ``The Gateway to the West,'' and oversee 
more cargo and passenger traffic on its runways than any other military 
air terminal in the United States.
  To me, they represent what is best about our Air Force and its proud 
history. Travis airmen are constantly being called upon to provide 
critical service to our Nation. Along with their Air Force colleagues 
across the globe they continue to play a vital role in the global war 
on terror as well as Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
  Not only do they put their lives on the line in military missions 
whenever called upon, but the men and women of Travis have provided 
humanitarian relief across the globe as recently as the Indonesian 
tsunami and right here at home in response to the hurricane Katrina 
disaster.
  The service members of Travis carry out their missions and protect 
the homeland because they have the right airlift platforms--the C-5s 
and the C-17s--to do their job.
  This year, I was able to secure $10.8 million for the Global Support 
Squadron Facility at Travis Air Force Base in the fiscal year 2008 
Military Construction Appropriations bill.
  This project would provide a cutting edge operations facility to 
house approximately 130 personnel necessary for the first Global 
Support Squadron Facility on the West Coast.
  It would enhance readiness through specialized design features for 
command and control, training and deployment preparation, not available 
in current facilities. GSS is critical to the Air Force's ability to 
rapidly deploy U.S. military forces and initiate operations in minimal 
time at any base or location around the globe.
  The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis is the largest air mobility 
organization in the Air Force with a versatile all-jet fleet of C-5 
Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft, and KC-10 Extender 
refueling aircraft. It handles more cargo and passengers than any other 
military air terminal in the United States.
  Travis is the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft 
returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area. The 60th Air 
Mobility Wing crews can fly support missions anywhere in the world to 
fulfill its motto of being ``America's First Choice'' for providing 
true global reach.
  I am proud to join my colleagues in commending the Air Force and its 
achievements.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, since the United States Air 
Force was established as an independent branch of the U.S. Armed Forces 
in 1947, it has played a major role in our national defense. Throughout 
its 60 years of valiant service, from Operation Rolling Thunder over 
the skies of Southeast Asia, to Operations Northern and Southern Watch 
in Iraq, the men and women of the United States Air Force and Air 
National Guard have defended the United States and our allies around 
the world.
  Since 1947, the men and women stationed at McChord Air Force Base in 
Washington state have played a key role in supporting the mission of 
the Air Force, and I want to acknowledge their outstanding service.
  ``Team McChord,'' which includes the 62nd Airlift Wing, and its Air 
Force Reserve components in the 446th Airlift Wing, has flown 
continuous combat airlift operations every day since October 2001. 
These operations provide vital airlift and medical evacuation support 
to our forces as they fight to stop the spread of terrorism and as they 
respond to other contingencies. In addition to being the home of combat 
airlift, ``Team McChord'' includes the Western Air Defense Sector, the 
22nd Special Tactics Squadron, and the 262nd Information Warfare 
Aggressor Squadron. Together, day in and day out, these brave men and 
women actively support vital military operations around the world.
  Today, we recognize the continued dedication of the United States Air 
Force. I congratulate them on 60 years of invaluable service to our 
county.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to pay tribute to the United 
States Air Force, on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary. This 
special day provides us with an important opportunity to recognize and 
honor the men and

[[Page 24576]]

women who have made our Nation's Air Force the greatest air power in 
the world. As a former Captain in the U.S. Air Force myself, I shared a 
willingness to protect and defend the United States of America with all 
my fellow airmen and airwomen.
  On September 18, 1947, the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted, 
and the U.S. Air Force was officially formed. Although it is the newest 
unit of the four military branches, the U.S. Air Force has rapidly 
evolved into a segment of our armed services that embodies the 
fundamental core values and aptitude of our Nation's military 
foundation.
  In the fifth century B.C., Chinese military theorist Sun Tzu said 
that the ``The art of employing troops is that when the enemy occupies 
high ground, do not confront him.'' Drawing on the teachings of Sun Tzu 
and nineteenth century military historian and theorist Carl von 
Clausewitz, military leaders over the past 200 years have sought to 
perfect their craft in warfare. Until the 20th century, however, the 
might of a country's military forces was still incomplete. While 
nation-states throughout the world had successfully developed their 
ground and sea forces, it was not until the advent of aircraft that the 
nature of warfare would be altered dramatically and permanently, thus 
finally permitting our armed services to confront the enemy on high 
ground.
  Still, it took time to develop the technology and practice of air 
power so that it matched its theoretical potential. Even though the 
technology for capable air power existed for the U.S. Air Force during 
the Vietnam and Korean wars, the United States had not developed the 
capability of air power thoroughly enough to derive full benefit from 
its use until the Gulf War.
  Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel John Warden, the initial architect of 
the gulf war's air campaign, ``Instant Thunder,'' once theorized that 
the most important effect that air power would have in war would be its 
ability to destabilize the will and morale of the enemy's military 
leadership. The use of American air power in the gulf war and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom successfully proved Colonel Warden's theory true.
  The U.S. Air Force is unmatched in its technological prowess, 
providing air and space superiority on demand, and playing an important 
role in America's nuclear deterrence. The U.S. Air Force is 
revolutionary in that it is an expeditionary air force: It gets our 
ground forces to the fight, and gets our air power in the fight. Our 
Nation's Air Force has essentially provided our ground and naval forces 
with the tools necessary to successfully fight asymmetrical warfare by 
turning the landscape into a symmetrical one.
  The Great Narrative of the next 25 years will be the contest between 
globalization and parochialism. As communications and technology 
continue to flatten the world, the connected first-world nations will 
benefit and their vested interest in the global order's continued 
smooth functioning will encourage political stability and economic 
development. Those nations left behind will see globalization as a 
hostile force and may fight against it. It is those same countries that 
also tend to serve as fertile breeding grounds for radical ideologies. 
The challenge ahead lies in folding these countries into the new global 
order.
  The battle we face today in the global war on terror is the same 
battle we will face tomorrow, and it is a war we will continue to fight 
throughout our lifetime. In some ways, this war is not unlike the cold 
war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union; a monumental surgical strike 
will not immediately and forever decimate the enemy. This war will take 
time, and will require the prolonged use of a clear, inclusive, and 
engaging national military strategy.
  Currently, our armed services continue to focus on ``muddy boots'' 
requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must remember that this would 
not be possible without the work of our Nation's Air force. In the 
initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. Air Force paved the 
way for our men and women on the ground so that they could conduct 
military-to-military training, counter-drug, counter-terrorist, and 
homeland defense missions in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  It is my hope that as we celebrate the sixtieth birthday of the 
United States Air Force, we will be reminded of the tremendous 
sacrifices that our Air Force personnel and their families have made 
throughout the history of air power so that we may all continue to 
enjoy and pursue the opportunities afforded us by their significant 
role in protecting our democratic values. We must encourage innovation 
in the field, and I will do my part to ensure that our Air Force will 
be ready to meet the future with the tools they need to capitalize on 
new technologies, to maximize transport of equipment and military 
personnel, and to provide our boots on the ground with the landscape 
necessary to continue to deter, prevent, and punish acts of terrorism 
and piracy in the U.S. and around the world.
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 207 recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States 
Air Force. Sixty years ago today, the National Security Act of 1947 
established what we know as the premiere Air Force in the world. Since 
that time, thousands of airmen have served our Nation with pride and 
honor, and I am proud to recognize their service today.
  The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for 
the defense of the United States of America and its global interests--
to fly and fight in air, space, and cyberspace. Air Force aircraft, 
tankers, and cargo planes play key roles in nearly every combat 
operation our Nation undertakes. Additionally, their capabilities in 
space have become critical to air, land, and sea combat operations and 
are a benefit to our entire Nation.
  For the past 60 years, Air Force aircraft, missiles, and satellites 
have kept our Nation safe. While the many technologies and advancements 
have certainly contributed to our national defense, it is the most 
prized resource of the Air Force--its airmen--that truly make a 
difference for our Nation and the world. As a member of the Air Force 
Caucus, I am pleased to recognize the service of both current and 
former Air Force personnel on this 60th anniversary.
  As we consider this resolution, our Nation's airmen are serving in 
every corner of the world, including many in Alabama's Second 
Congressional District. I am proud to represent Maxwell-Gunter Air 
Force Base, home of Air University, along with the 42nd Air Base Wing, 
the Operations and Sustainment Support Group, the 908th Airlift Wing, 
the 754th Electronic Systems Group, the Air Force Logistics Management 
Agency, and the newest squadron in the Air Force, the 100th Fighter 
Squadron. The 100th Fighter Squadron is special because it was the 
squadron of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and I am 
pleased that this squadron will call Montgomery home.
  Air University is a major component of Air Education and Training 
Command and is the Air Force's center for professional military 
education. Air University provides the full spectrum of Air Force 
education, from pre-commissioning to the highest levels of professional 
military education, including degree granting and professional 
continuing education for officers, enlisted and civilian personnel 
throughout their careers.
  Air University's Professional Military Education programs educate 
airmen on the capabilities of air and space power and its role in 
national security. These programs focus on the knowledge and abilities 
needed to develop, employ, command, and support air and space power at 
the highest levels. Additionally, Air University conducts research in 
air and space power, education, leadership, and management and 
contributes to the development and testing of Air Force doctrine, 
concepts and strategy.
  This year the Air Force also celebrates the 25th birthday of Air 
Force Space Command. As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services 
Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I am privileged to work with some of the 
finest in the Air Force on a set of programs that I believe will only 
become more important to our future security. Our world is becoming 
increasingly dependent on assets and platforms in space, and America's 
Air Force is meeting the challenges of the 21st Century security 
environment.
  During the cold war, Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft kept us 
safe by keeping watch on the Soviets. I am proud to note that I served 
as an Intelligence Analyst supporting this platform from 1955-1959 in 
West Germany. These aircraft performed a number of critically important 
missions and made a vital contribution to our National defense.
  Air and missile crews manning nuclear bombers and ICBMs provided our 
Nation with a powerful strategic deterrent. These capabilities were a 
major component of our ``Peace Through Strength'' policy that enabled 
the United States to win the cold war, and I think it is appropriate 
for Congress to recognize the dedicated service of countless numbers of 
airmen who protected our Nation during this time.
  As the Air Force ushers in its next 60 years, we can be assured it 
will be postured to meet new challenges in air, space, and cyberspace. 
As a member of the Air Force Caucus, I am proud to provide for the 
needs of current and future force. Although the service is the youngest 
of the branches of our Armed Forces, there is no question that the Air 
Force has made, is making, and will continue to make an extraordinary 
contribution to our nation's defense.

[[Page 24577]]

  As a nation, we are indebted to the Air Force for its commitment and 
sacrifice. I congratulate Secretary Wynne, General Moseley, and the 
entire Air Force team for 60 years of dedicated service and defense of 
our freedom.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago President Harry Truman, 
through the National Security Act of 1947, created the United States 
Air Force and ended a 40-year association with the U.S. Army. This move 
signaled the dawning of a new age and placed airpower in its proper 
place as a vital element of our Nation's defense.
  Airpower had proven its worth to President Truman and many others 
over those 40 years. From Military Air Balloon success in World War I, 
to Billy Mitchell's airpower demonstration off Virginia's coast, to the 
Doolittle Raids and the devastating bombing raids in World War II, 
airpower allowed our military commanders to fight for and defend our 
Nation as never before.
  Creating a separate Air Force allowed our brave service men and women 
to fully concentrate on honing the skills and pushing the ever-
expanding envelope of airpower.
  In Georgia today, we have Air National Guard and/or Air Force Reserve 
units at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Robins Air Force Base, Savannah, 
Macon and Brunswick as well as active-duty units at Moody Air Force 
Base.
  And whether it is C-130s from the 165th Airlift Wing or men and women 
from the 117th Air Control Squadron which just won the 2007 Outstanding 
Air Control Squadron award from the National Guard Association of the 
United States, each of Georgia's units and the outstanding men and 
women who serve in them contribute around the world fighting the Global 
War on Terrorism. They also provide a formidable force in the face of 
disaster here at home, as was seen in the aftermath of Hurricane 
Katrina when rescue helicopters from Moody teamed up with other Air 
Force rescue units to save more than 4,300 people from the disastrous 
and deadly storm.
  Dobbins, Robins and Moody can all trace their beginnings to the Army 
and the 1940-1941 timeframe when the War Department was making 
preparations in case the United States went to war--which came to 
fruition on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese declared War on the 
United States and attacked Pearl Harbor.
  Dobbins began as Rickenbacker Field, but was re-named in 1950 in 
honor of Captain Charles M. Dobbins of Marietta, whose airplane was 
shot down during the war near Sicily.
  Robins is named after Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins, one 
of the Army Air Corps' first General Staff Officers. The Warner Robins 
Air Logistic Center which preceded the base is also named after the 
General.
  Moody is named after MAJ George Putnam Moody, an early Air Force 
pioneer killed in May 1941 while serving with the Beech Aircraft 
Company in Wichita, Kan. At the time of his death, the major was 
working on the inspection board for AT-10 transitional trainers which 
were later sent to Moody.
  While each base has a rich history, Moody began a new chapter in its 
history just recently when the 23rd Fighter Group relocated to Moody 
and began flying A-10 missions in the skies over Valdosta.
  The 23rd Fighter Group also known as the ``Flying Tigers'' was formed 
under the command of General Claire Chennault and was part of his China 
Air Task Force, taking over the mission of the disbanded American 
volunteer group ``Flying Tigers.'' Several of the original Flying 
Tigers flew with the 23rd Fighter Group in the China-Burma-India 
Theater, passing on their knowledge and experience.
  Like Mitchell before him, Chennault was another early pioneer and 
controversial figure who made today's Air Force possible. He argued 
vehemently for the fighter plane in the 1930s--a time when the rise of 
the bomber aircraft had consumed the Air Corps experts and were the 
focus for their tactics.
  In fact, it was his continued belief and passionate advocacy for the 
fighter that led to his isolation at the famed Air Tactical School and 
eventually drove him to become an advisor in China and the rest as we 
say is history.
  Today we mark the Air Force's 60th birthday in order to reflect on 
its heroes of the past, and more importantly, to recognize the courage 
and sacrifice our airmen and their families make each and every day for 
our freedom. Quite simply, I salute you.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sarbanes). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 207.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________