119-hres223

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 223 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 223

Honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and 
the contributions of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to the military 
 and national security of the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 14, 2025

 Mr. James (for himself, Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Bergman, Ms. 
Scholten, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. McClain, Mr. Moolenaar, Ms. 
 McDonald Rivet, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Walberg) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and 
the contributions of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to the military 
 and national security of the United States.

Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is named after Army 1st Lieutenant 
 Thomas E. Selfridge, the first aerial military casualty during a 
 demonstration flight with Orville Wright in 1908;
Whereas the Army commissioned Selfridge Field in Harrison Township, Michigan, on 
 July 1, 1917, and it is one of the oldest military airfields in the 
 United States still in use;
Whereas the 332d Fighter Group of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African-
 American unit, moved to Selfridge Field on March 29, 1943, and Colonel 
 Benjamin O. Davis became the first African-American commander on October 
 8, 1943;
Whereas, on July 1, 1971, Selfridge Field was transferred to the Michigan Air 
 National Guard, becoming the first major Air Force installation under 
 the jurisdiction of the Michigan Air National Guard;
Whereas, on April 1, 1996, the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was 
 established at Selfridge Air National Guard Base;
Whereas, after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, 
 Selfridge Air National Guard Base became a key center for security 
 operations to protect and secure the northern border of the United 
 States;
Whereas the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was the 2016 recipient 
 of the Carl A. Spaatz Award, a prestigious award given to the best 
 flying organization in the Air National Guard, and was awarded the 
 Meritorious Unit Award in the same year for ``outstanding devotion and 
 exceptional performance'';
Whereas opportunities for investment in aerospace, as well as more fighter 
 missions, will keep Selfridge Air National Guard Base successful and 
 will contribute to a dominant Air Force and to a strong national 
 defense;
Whereas annual joint service and international Northern Strike exercises, 
 combined with the critical manufacturing base of the ``Arsenal of 
 Democracy'', position the State of Michigan as an invaluable cornerstone 
 of national defense and aerospace;
Whereas the State of Michigan is home to the ``Arsenal of Democracy'' along with 
 the United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, the United 
 States Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and Selfridge Air 
 National Guard Base;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base finds itself surrounded by premier 
 institutions of higher education and with ample space and resources to 
 become a hub of defense and aerospace research and innovation;
Whereas the resolute support of residents of Macomb County, Michigan, and 
 elected officials of the State of Michigan has resulted in continued 
 investment and resources from the Federal Government for Selfridge Air 
 National Guard Base and the defense industry in the State of Michigan;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a source of community pride and 
 enjoys unparalleled community support;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base generates hundreds of millions of 
 dollars to the surrounding cities and townships of the State of Michigan 
 and supports over 4,500 jobs;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a joint military installation and 
 home to many national security assets of the United States, including 
 assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard;
Whereas, on January 12, 2024, Selfridge Air National Guard Base was selected by 
 the United States Air Force for a beddown of twelve KC-46A Pegasus 
 tanker aircraft; and
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base provides a strategic location for 
 northern border security and homeland defense in response to any threats 
 coming from the north through Canada and the Great Lakes region: Now, 
 therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) honors Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison 
 Township, Michigan, on its 108th anniversary;

    (2) commends the thousands of men and women who have worked 
 and trained at Selfridge Air National Guard Base;

    (3) reinforces the commitment of the Armed Forces to 
 Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a facility that is key to 
 the national security of United States;

    (4) encourages continued cooperation and dialogue with the 
 Department of Defense in support of Selfridge Air National 
 Guard Base; and

    (5) acknowledges the ongoing investments of the State of 
 Michigan in its defense assets and workforce and continued 
 contributions to the defense of the United States.
 <all>