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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 115
BY REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON
CONGRESS: Memorializes congress to prevent the retirement of certain aircraft assigned
to Barksdale Air Force Base
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to prevent2
the retirement of A-10 aircraft assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, based at3
Barksdale Air Force Base.4
WHEREAS, established in 1932, the Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), a United5
States Air Force Base located approximately 4.72 miles east-southeast of Bossier City,6
Louisiana is named for World War I aviator and test pilot 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Hoy7
Barksdale (1896–1926); and 8
WHEREAS, Barksdale Air Force Base has proudly served Arkansas, Louisiana, and9
Texas for more than sixty-seven years and is home to the 2d Bomb Wing, 2d Mission10
Support Group, 2d Operations Group, 2d Maintenance Group, the 2d Medical Group, 8th Air11
Force Museum, and the Air Force Reserve's 917th Wing; and 12
WHEREAS, in December 1999, the 917th Wing received the Air Force outstanding13
Unit Award, for winning the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award and Secretary of14
Defense Award for Self-Inspection Tracking System. The award noted the unit's15
sponsorship of the Starbase program, which creates interest for local children in math,16
science, and technology by using an aviation theme; and17
WHEREAS, Barksdale Air Force Base has grown into a major source of revenue and18
employment for the region by providing jobs for nearly ten thousand military and civilian19
employees and in 2006, under Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the 917th Wing20 HLS 12RS-1944 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 115
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gained eight A-10 aircraft and a number of full-time and part-time employment positions;1
and2
WHEREAS, as part of a wide-ranging plan to reduce its total aircraft inventory, the3
Obama administration intends to propose in the 2013 budget request, the elimination of4
twenty-four A-10 aircraft that comprise the Air Force Reserve's 917th Fighter Group at5
Barksdale Air Force Base; and 6
WHEREAS, the Air Force plans to rebalance its overall ratio of regular, reserve, and7
Air National Guard forces at about sixty installations in thirty-three states and retire two8
hundred twenty-seven aircraft to support a new defense strategy known as the "Air Force9
Strategy and Structure Overview"; and 10
WHEREAS, for nearly eighty years the 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base and11
the Shreveport-Bossier community have enjoyed a strong partnership, which provides jobs12
to the community and programs for the local children, and the elimination of the A-1013
aircraft will have an adverse effect on not only the economy but the community as well.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
memorialize congress to take such actions as are necessary to oppose the elimination of A-1016
aircraft assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, based at Barksdale Air Force Base.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the18
presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the19
United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.20
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Thompson HCR No. 115
Memorializes congress to take such actions as are necessary to prevent the retirement of A-
10 aircraft assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, based at Barksdale Air Force Base.