[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             AIR FORCE ONE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have heard some criticize the President for 
having played golf with Tiger Woods because Woods is not a favorable 
role model. The President's golfing is not my business.
  But permit me to tell you what is my business: the frequent use of 
Air Force One and the related costs thereto. President Obama was the 
second most traveled President of all time for a single term, spending 
95 days on 25 trips. In 2009, President Obama traveled more in his 
first year than any other President. President Obama spent 41 days 
traveling to 21 different countries.
  The most updated figure, Mr. Speaker, on the cost per hour of 
operating Air Force One is in excess of $179,000 per hour. This is just 
a tiny fraction of the President's foreign travel plans, which includes 
backup aircraft, aerial tankers, motor transport, security and 
diplomatic personnel, accommodations, and advance teams.
  The First Lady also has been actively traveling, making trips to 
Ireland, Africa, Western Europe, and Copenhagen. When flying solo, 
Michelle Obama would likely use a C-40B or C with a cost per flight-
hour of between $19,000 and $26,000, or a larger C-32 passenger jet, 
which has a cost per flight-hour of in excess of $42,000.
  Presidential entourages have grown quite large in the modern era as 
well, Mr. Speaker. President Obama was accompanied by more than 500 
staff, including security, during his 2009 trip to London. At least 200 
security agents alone will be involved in the President's current 
Africa trip.
  I am not suggesting, Mr. Speaker, that we compromise safety or 
security, but the First Family, it seems to me, treats Air Force One 
and related aircraft as their personal toys--a very expensive toy, I 
might add. I will admit, Mr. Speaker, that Air Force One belongs to 
President Obama and his wife, but Air Force One also belongs to you and 
me and to every taxpayer in America.
  I simply ask the President and his wife to exercise more prudence and 
discipline regarding their prided aircraft activities. When the wheels 
of Air Force One are up, the meter is on, and I'm talking about a heap 
of taxpayer dollars.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the plague of the soaring debt continues to 
bother us. I respectively request that President Obama and his wife 
direct more attention to our soaring debt and deficit and less time on 
Air Force One.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind Members to refrain 
from improper references toward the President.

                          ____________________