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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 55
BY SENATORS GALLOT, ADLEY, KOSTELKA, LONG, RISER, LAFLEUR, JOHN
SMITH AND WALSWORTH AND REPRESENTATIVES ARMES,
BROWN, COX, HARRIS AND HAZEL
MILITARY AFFAIRS. Memorializes Congress to support the 259
th
Air Traffic Control
Squadron Louisiana National Guard and urges the Louisiana congressional delegation to
take action to reverse the disbanding of the squadron.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To memorialize the Congress of the United States to support the 259
th
Air Traffic Control2
Squadron Louisiana National Guard and urge the Louisiana congressional delegation3
to take action to reverse the planned disbanding of the squadron.4
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron is uniquely staffed to support5
large scale military training operations that are launched from Alexandria International6
Airport to Fort Polk which are essential to the world class military training at Fort Polk; and7
WHEREAS, three of the last four presidents have used the services and assets of the8
ATC squadron to safely access Fort Polk and Central Louisiana; and9
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron has also safely controlled the air10
access of numerous United States flag officers, foreign dignitaries, foreign military officers,11
governors and members of congressional delegations during important visits in support of12
Fort Polk operations; and13
WHEREAS, this exceptional unit has consistently achieved rating of excellent in14
their performance evaluation and currently leads the nation in keeping its staff strength at15
or near one hundred percent; and16
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron has played a key role in disaster17
relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina, when it worked to control the airspace over New18 SCR NO. 55
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Orleans in the aftermath of the country's biggest natural disaster; and1
WHEREAS, this unit has been called on and has responded in an exemplary manner2
to requests from other states when they were struck by disasters; and3
WHEREAS, little or no input was considered from the Air National Guard4
Headquarters, the Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, the Louisiana Air5
National Guard Commander, the Louisiana congressional delegation, the governor, the6
United States Army or England Airpark before the Department of Defense proposed to7
disband the unit in order to achieve budget cuts; and8
WHEREAS, the 259
th
is composed of 110 proud, patriotic Louisiana citizens bravely9
serving their country during perilous times who are now being told their mission is over and10
their service is no longer needed; and11
WHEREAS, disbanding of the 259
th
ATC will weaken Fort Polk, Alexandria12
International Airport, England Airpark and the state of Louisiana.13
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby14
memorializes the Congress of the United States to use all of its powers of oversight to15
reverse this catastrophic decision by the Department of Defense to disband a vital, smooth16
operating, and badly needed unit such as the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron in order to17
cut military spending, especially in these times of war, world conflict, and danger from18
dictators and terrorists.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the20
governor and the appropriate agencies to take such action as they deem necessary to support21
the Louisiana congressional delegation in its effort to save the 259
th
Air Traffic Control22
Squadron.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted24
to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of25
Representatives, to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress26
and to the governor of the state of Louisiana.27 SCR NO. 55
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Gallot SCR No. 55
Memorializes Congress to reverse the decision by the Department of Defense to disband the
259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron.