Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution expressing support for the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Whereas, In 2016, the Legislature of this State passed Assembly Resolution No. 149 and Senate Resolution No. 55, urging the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and
Whereas, New Jersey's 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard is among the units being considered for a second time by the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets; and
Whereas, This State continues its belief in the strength and suitability of the 177th Fighter Wing as a base for F-35 fighter jets; and
Whereas, The 177th Fighter Wing meets the United States Air Force basing criteria which includes: mission requirements such as weather, airspace and training range availability; capacity such as sufficient hanger and ramp space, and facility considerations; environmental requirements; and cost factors; and
Whereas, The 177th Fighter Wing is located at the Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, an ideal strategic location between New York City and Washington, D.C. to play a critical role in defending our country; and
Whereas, The 177th Fighter Wing is vitally important in both the Air Combat Command's Aerospace Expeditionary Force structure and NORAD's Air Force Aerospace Control Alert mission; and
Whereas, The 177th Fighter Wing has had 14 years of Homeland Defense experience, has had three combat deployments, and has air-to-ground mission experience and expertise; and
Whereas, The facilities have already been designed to meet the needs of F-35 fighter jets and any modifications would be limited, minimizing any costs to transition to basing F-35 fighter jets; and
Whereas, The 177th Fighter Wing is a premier Air National Guard facility, is a critical asset in the planning and execution of national security decisions, and this State supports its selection as one of the locations to base the United States Air Force F-35 fighter jets; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The State of New Jersey hereby expresses continued support for the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, each Senator and Representative from New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Director of the Air National Guard of the National Guard Bureau, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Wing Commander of the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution expresses the continued support of this State for the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In 2016, both houses of the Legislature of this State passed resolutions urging the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets at the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 177th Fighter Wing is among the units being considered for a second time by the United States Air Force to base F-35 fighter jets and this State continues its belief in the strength and suitability of the 177th Fighter Wing as a base for F-35 fighter jets.
The 177th Fighter Wing has an ideal strategic location between New York City and Washington, D.C., is vitally important in both the Air Combat Command's Aerospace Expeditionary Force structure and NORAD's Air Force Aerospace Control Alert mission, has had 14 years of Homeland Defense experience, has had three combat deployments, and has air-to-ground mission experience and expertise. The facilities have already been designed to meet the needs of the F-35 fighter jets and any modifications would be limited, minimizing any costs to transition to basing F-35 fighter jets.
The 177th Fighter Wing is a premier Air National Guard facility, is a critical asset in the planning and execution of national security decisions, and this State supports its selection as one of the locations to base the United States Air Force F-35 fighter jets.