[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15618-15620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD

  Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1052) honoring the members of the Army National 
Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service 
and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1052

       Whereas members of the Army National Guard and Air National 
     Guard of the State of Oklahoma reside throughout the State 
     and come from various communities, backgrounds, and 
     professions;
       Whereas the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of 
     the State of Oklahoma are composed of several units, 
     including the Joint Forces Headquarters, the 45th Infantry 
     Brigade Combat Team, the 45th Fires Brigade, the 90th Troop 
     Command, the 189th Regional Training Institute, Camp Gruber 
     Joint Maneuver Training Center, the 137th Air Refueling Wing, 
     the 138th Fighter Wing,

[[Page 15619]]

     the 205th Engineering Installation Squadron, and the 219th 
     Engineering Installation Squadron;
       Whereas, since September 11, 2001, units and members of the 
     Army National Guard and the Air National Guard of the State 
     of Oklahoma have been deployed, and are continuously being 
     deployed, in support of United States military operations at 
     home and abroad;
       Whereas the 45th Infantry Brigade mobilized in 2003 for 
     Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed more than 700 
     soldiers to Afghanistan to provide training to Afghan 
     Security Forces;
       Whereas the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team mobilized in 
     2007 for Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed more than 2,700 
     soldiers to provide command and control and conduct security 
     force and detainee operations, representing the largest 
     single deployment for the Oklahoma Army National Guard since 
     the Korean War;
       Whereas the 45th Fires Brigade mobilized in 2008 for 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed more than 1,000 soldiers 
     to provide command and control and conduct security force 
     operations;
       Whereas 90th Troop Command units mobilized for Operation 
     Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed 
     more than 2,600 soldiers to conduct combat support and combat 
     service support missions;
       Whereas the 189th Regional Training Institute and Camp 
     Gruber Joint Maneuver Training Center have provided 
     professional training to military and nonmilitary personnel 
     to enhance domestic security and prepare units for 
     deployments abroad;
       Whereas the Oklahoma Army National Guard mobilized in 2005 
     and deployed more than 2,500 soldiers to support relief 
     operations in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 
     including assisting law enforcement agencies with traffic 
     control and security, transporting and distributing food, 
     water, and ice, conducting search and rescue and ground and 
     air evacuations, providing generator support, and performing 
     other missions to protect life and property;
       Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2003 for 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi 
     Arabia as part of the largest C-130 wing assembled in 
     history, transporting troops, food, supplies, and equipment 
     to United States forces in Iraq;
       Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2003 for 
     Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed to Uzbekistan, 
     providing critical airlift and logistical support for United 
     States forces in Afghanistan;
       Whereas between 2003 and 2006, the 137th Airlift Wing 
     transported 39,368 troops and 11,170 tons of critical cargo 
     to United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2005 and 
     deployed one of the first C-130 units to support relief 
     operations in response to Hurricane Katrina, including 
     evacuating hospital and nursing home residents to safety by 
     air, providing critical logistical support, and airlifting 
     2,500 members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard to 
     population centers to provide aid to hurricane victims;
       Whereas the 138th Fighter Wing mobilized in 2005, 2007, and 
     2008 for Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Iraq to 
     provide close air support and engage in combat missions, 
     during which the 138th Fighter Wing expended 109,000 pounds 
     of combat ordnance and successfully destroyed numerous 
     targets; and
       Whereas, since September 11, 2001, the 138th Fighter Wing 
     has flown numerous Air Sovereignty Alert missions in the 
     United States, protecting high value domestic targets against 
     attack and contributing to homeland defense, and in 2008 the 
     138th Fighter Wing was recognized as the most active alert 
     facility in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its gratitude to the members of the Army 
     National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of 
     Oklahoma and their families for their service and sacrifice 
     on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001; and
       (2) recognizes the citizen-soldiers and airmen of the 
     Oklahoma National Guard as invaluable to the national 
     security of the United States, vital to defending against 
     threats both foreign and domestic, and essential for 
     responding to State and national emergencies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOREN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I, along with the entire Oklahoma congressional 
delegation, rise today to recognize the members of the Oklahoma Army 
and Air National Guard for their service and sacrifice since September 
11, 2001. Military service is a time-honored tradition in Oklahoma, and 
the members of the Oklahoma National Guard are a living testament to 
this heritage.

                              {time}  1440

  Following the terrorist attacks on 
9/11, thousands of members of the Oklahoma National Guard bravely 
answered the call of duty. They have confronted our enemies on the 
battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan, defended the American homeland 
against domestic threats and responded bravely to natural disasters and 
domestic emergencies.
  Madam Speaker, Members of the Oklahoma National Guard are an 
invaluable asset to the United States military during wartime. Some of 
their more notable missions since 9/11 include providing air transport 
for soldiers and vital equipment to and from Iraq and Afghanistan, 
assisting with relief operations in response to Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita and deploying specialized units of agricultural specialists to 
Afghanistan to assist local Afghans with agricultural development.
  Madam Speaker, as we discuss this resolution, 3,500 members of the 
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing to deploy to 
Afghanistan in the spring of 2011 as part of the President's surge 
strategy. This represents the single largest deployment of the Oklahoma 
National Guard since the Korean War.
  Madam Speaker, these Oklahoma soldiers and airmen are extraordinary 
Americans. As members of the Oklahoma National Guard, they bravely risk 
their lives to protect the freedom and liberty that we so cherish. In 
their daily lives, these heroes are found throughout the Sooner State 
working among their fellow Oklahomans as police officers, firefighters, 
school teachers, and farmers.
  That is why I, along with the entire Oklahoma delegation, am humbled 
to bring this resolution to the floor of the House today.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1052, honoring the 
members of the Army and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for 
their service and sacrifices on behalf of the United States since 
September 11, 2001. I want to commend Representative Boren of Oklahoma 
for sponsoring the legislation.
  The units and personnel of the Oklahoma National Guard are remarkably 
diverse and capable. Their contributions since September 11, 2001, not 
only during the global war on terror, but also for the security of our 
homeland, are significant. They have conducted multiple major unit 
deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, including the mobilization and 
deployment of the 45th Infantry Brigade, some 2,700 soldiers, to Iraq 
in 2007. That was the largest deployment for the Oklahoma National 
Guard since the Korean War.
  Oklahoma National Guard units also mobilized more than 2,500 
personnel in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, performing 
missions to protect life and property. Since September 11, 2001, the 
Oklahoma Air National Guard has flown numerous air sovereignty missions 
to protect the U.S. mainland.
  The successes and contributions of the Oklahoma Army and Air National 
Guard are directly related to the dedication, sacrifices and the 
professionalism of the civilian and military personnel who carry out 
the Guard's missions, and to the outstanding support of families for 
the continued service of the men and women of the National Guard. Their 
efforts and sacrifices deserve our recognition and thanks. For that 
reason, I urge all Members to support the resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.

[[Page 15620]]


  Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the men and 
women of the Oklahoma National Guard and their family members for their 
service and sacrifice since September 11, 2001.
  I also wish members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team well as 
they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan early next year. May they stay 
safe during this vitally important mission, and we pray for their safe 
and speedy return home.
  I urge adoption of this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1052.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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