BILL NUMBER: AJR 31	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Perea, John A. Pérez, and Cook

                        MARCH 12, 2012

   Relative to the 144th Fighter Wing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 31, as introduced, Perea. 144th Fighter Wing.
   This measure would respectfully request Congress and the
Department of Defense to remain committed to maintaining the 144th
Fighter Wing and the Aerospace Control Alert mission in California in
order to prevent any negative impacts to Southwest air defense
operations, the California economy, and the ability of first
responders to protect the residents of this state.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing
located in Fresno is composed of 1,046 airmen, 22 F-16 aircraft, and
one RC-26 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft; and

   WHEREAS, The primary mission of the 144th is to provide air
superiority worldwide in support of joint operations and Aerospace
Control Alert for the Southwest United States. This mission requires
the maintenance of a number of aircraft ready for immediate launch to
intercept air threats to the United States. The California Air
National Guard has the second busiest Aerospace Control Alert mission
in the United States behind the National Capitol Region. Aircraft on
alert are positioned at Fresno and March Air Reserve Base at
Riverside; and
   WHEREAS, As part of the enacted fiscal year 2012 Federal Budget,
the 144th will begin to convert from F-16 aircraft to F-15 aircraft
in August 2012. Aircraft conversion at the 144th Wing involves
replacing the F-16 aircraft with the F-15 aircraft in order to
provide a better platform to conduct the air superiority and air
defense missions. More than one-half of the support equipment
required for the F-15 conversion is on location, and maintenance
training began in May 2011. The first of 21 assigned F-15 aircraft is
scheduled to arrive at Fresno on August 15, 2012. The Fighter Wing
will have 18 F-15 aircraft by January 31, 2013, with the balance
scheduled to arrive by May 2013; and
   WHEREAS, There is consideration within the Department of Defense
of eliminating the 144th Fighter Wing and backfilling its air defense
mission using aircraft, personnel, and equipment from other states;
and
   WHEREAS, The initiative to divest the 144th Fighter Wing would
eliminate an air defense base consisting of 22 jets and replace it
with two out-of-state detachments consisting of 6 jets, significantly
increasing response time to increased threats; and
   WHEREAS, California would lose valuable civilian support
capabilities and personnel trained and ready for a variety of
domestic emergencies. Law enforcement, fire, and other agencies
frequently rely on the 144th Fighter Wing's ground capabilities,
which include civil engineering, explosive ordnance disposal,
communications, aerial imaging, maintenance, logistics, and medical
support; and
   WHEREAS, There would be significant operational costs to the
federal government associated with conducting an air defense alert
site for the Southwest United States from outside California. This
would include logistical costs to rotate personnel to their
assignments, as well as additional flying hours that would be
required to ferry out-of-state aircraft to the alert site after
routine maintenance. Additional costs would be incurred for
maintaining aircraft away from its home station, including the
shipment of equipment and supplies; and
   WHEREAS, The closure of the 144th Fighter Wing would have a
devastating impact on the economies of Fresno and Riverside, which
already suffer from unemployment rates that are well above the
national rate. The 144th Fighter Wing employs 1,046 airmen and women
who have 1,642 dependents. The Air Force spends over $70 million
dollars per year on the 144th Fighter Wing; and
   WHEREAS, The proposal to divest the 144th Fighter Wing is costly,
places the Southwest air defense mission at risk, and eliminates the
ground capabilities available to support first responders throughout
the state and FEMA Region IX; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully requests
Congress and the Department of Defense to remain committed to
maintaining the 144th Fighter Wing and the Aerospace Control Alert
mission in California in order to prevent any negative impacts to
Southwest air defense operations, the California economy, and the
ability of first responders to protect the residents of this state;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Secretary of Defense and to each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United States,
and to the author for appropriate distribution.