Ohio-2013-HCR5-Enrolled

As Adopted by the House

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 5

Representatives Bishoff, Rosenberger

Cosponsors: Representatives Budish, Antonio, Ashford, Curtin, Fedor, Grossman, Mallory, Perales, Phillips, Pillich, Ruhl, Scherer, Smith, Strahorn, Stinziano, Terhar, Johnson, Landis, Anielski, Barborak, Dovilla, Milkovich, Retherford, Adams, R., Baker, Barnes, Beck, Becker, Bishoff, Blair, Blessing, Boyce, Brenner, Brown, Buchy, Burkley, Butler, Carney, Celebrezze, Clyde, Damschroder, Driehaus, Duffey, Gerberry, Green, Hackett, Hagan, R., Hall, Hayes, Heard, Henne, Hood, Hottinger, Kunze, Letson, Lundy, McClain, O'Brien, Patterson, Ramos, Redfern, Roegner, Rogers, Romanchuk, Sears, Slaby, Slesnick, Sprague, Stebelton, Sykes, Szollosi, Wachtmann, Winburn, Young Speaker Batchelder

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To urge the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the 1
United States Air Force to give full consideration 2
to Rickenbacker Air Guard Station in Columbus, 3
Ohio as the location for the KC-46A Main Operating 4
Base. 5

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The United States Air Force currently is examining 6
candidate bases for the initial fielding of twelve KC-46A 7
aircraft; and 8

       WHEREAS, The proven performance of the Ohio Air National 9
Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing, based at Rickenbacker Air Guard 10
Station in Columbus, Ohio, in combination with the location, 11
infrastructure, and community associated with the site, would be 12
of unique benefit to the Air Force; and 13

       WHEREAS, The men and women of the 121st Air Refueling Wing 14
continue a lineage of proud service to our national defense that 15
spans over seventy years; and 16

       WHEREAS, These Guardsmen stand ready to fulfill any mission 17
assigned to them, and have a proven track record of exemplary 18
performance in the air refueling mission; and 19

       WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing has provided superior 20
support to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around 21
the world, and following the United Nations resolution concerning 22
the Libya no-fly zone, was among the first units to respond within 23
hours to rapidly developing tanker requirements; and 24

       WHEREAS, The KC-135 crews at Rickenbacker Air Guard Station 25
consistently demonstrate their superior performance as the only 26
Air National Guard unit to compete in the biannual Air Mobility 27
Command Rodeo, winning multiple awards over the past five years 28
for Best KC-135 Aircrew, Air Refueling, and Cargo Loading across 29
the Air Force; and 30

       WHEREAS, Geographically, Rickenbacker Air Guard Station is 31
well located to provide responsive support to the significant 32
demand for aerial refueling in the eastern United States, 33
particularly the heavy concentration of fighter and cargo aircraft 34
in the southeastern states; and 35

       WHEREAS, With Rickenbacker Air Guard Station's infrastructure 36
currently supporting eighteen KC-135R aircraft, the base is well 37
positioned to accept twelve KC-46A aircraft; and 38

       WHEREAS, The local community is a strong supporter of the 39
base and its resident Airmen, and low local area costs and the 40
availability of community amenities make Rickenbacker Air Guard 41
Station well suited to host an active association unit; and 42

       WHEREAS, The proven performance and wealth of experience of 43
the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air Guard Station's 44
outstanding facilities, and the strong local and statewide support 45
the unit enjoys make Rickenbacker Air Guard Station an ideal 46
location for a KC-46A Main Operating Base; now therefore be it 47

       RESOLVED, We, the members of the 130th General Assembly of 48
the State of Ohio, urge the Honorable Michael B. Donley, the 49
Secretary of the United States Air Force, and General Mark A. 50
Welsh, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, to give 51
Rickenbacker Air Guard Station every consideration in selecting a 52
location for the KC-46A Main Operating Base; and be it further 53

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 54
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 55
Secretary of the United States Air Force, to the Chief of Staff of 56
the United States Air Force, and to the news media of Ohio. 57

WHEREAS, The United States Air Force currently is examining	6
candidate bases for the initial fielding of twelve KC-46A	7
aircraft; and	8

WHEREAS, The proven performance of the Ohio Air National	9
Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing, based at Rickenbacker Air Guard	10
Station in Columbus, Ohio, in combination with the location,	11
infrastructure, and community associated with the site, would be	12
of unique benefit to the Air Force; and	13

WHEREAS, The men and women of the 121st Air Refueling Wing	14
continue a lineage of proud service to our national defense that	15
spans over seventy years; and	16

WHEREAS, These Guardsmen stand ready to fulfill any mission	17
assigned to them, and have a proven track record of exemplary	18
performance in the air refueling mission; and	19

WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing has provided superior	20
support to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around	21
the world, and following the United Nations resolution concerning	22
the Libya no-fly zone, was among the first units to respond within	23
hours to rapidly developing tanker requirements; and	24

WHEREAS, The KC-135 crews at Rickenbacker Air Guard Station	25
consistently demonstrate their superior performance as the only	26
Air National Guard unit to compete in the biannual Air Mobility	27
Command Rodeo, winning multiple awards over the past five years	28
for Best KC-135 Aircrew, Air Refueling, and Cargo Loading across	29
the Air Force; and	30

WHEREAS, Geographically, Rickenbacker Air Guard Station is	31
well located to provide responsive support to the significant	32
demand for aerial refueling in the eastern United States,	33
particularly the heavy concentration of fighter and cargo aircraft	34
in the southeastern states; and	35

WHEREAS, With Rickenbacker Air Guard Station's infrastructure	36
currently supporting eighteen KC-135R aircraft, the base is well	37
positioned to accept twelve KC-46A aircraft; and	38

WHEREAS, The local community is a strong supporter of the	39
base and its resident Airmen, and low local area costs and the	40
availability of community amenities make Rickenbacker Air Guard	41
Station well suited to host an active association unit; and	42

WHEREAS, The proven performance and wealth of experience of	43
the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air Guard Station's	44
outstanding facilities, and the strong local and statewide support	45
the unit enjoys make Rickenbacker Air Guard Station an ideal	46
location for a KC-46A Main Operating Base; now therefore be it	47

RESOLVED, We, the members of the 130th General Assembly of	48
the State of Ohio, urge the Honorable Michael B. Donley, the	49
Secretary of the United States Air Force, and General Mark A.	50
Welsh, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, to give	51
Rickenbacker Air Guard Station every consideration in selecting a	52
location for the KC-46A Main Operating Base; and be it further	53

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	54
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	55
Secretary of the United States Air Force, to the Chief of Staff of	56
the United States Air Force, and to the news media of Ohio.	57