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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 55
BY SENATORS GALLOT, ADLEY, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, RISER, JOHN
SMITH AND WALSWORTH AND REPRESENTATIVES ARMES,
BROWN, COX, DIXON, HARRIS AND HAZEL
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To memorialize the Congress of the United States to support the 259
th
Air Traffic Control
Squadron Louisiana National Guard and urge the Louisiana congressional delegation
to take action to reverse the planned disbanding of the squadron.
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron is uniquely staffed to support
large scale military training operations that are launched from Alexandria International
Airport to Fort Polk which are essential to the world class military training at Fort Polk; and
WHEREAS, three of the last four presidents have used the services and assets of the
ATC squadron to safely access Fort Polk and Central Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron has also safely controlled the air
access of numerous United States flag officers, foreign dignitaries, foreign military officers,
governors and members of congressional delegations during important visits in support of
Fort Polk operations; and
WHEREAS, this exceptional unit has consistently achieved rating of excellent in
their performance evaluation and currently leads the nation in keeping its staff strength at
or near one hundred percent; and
WHEREAS, the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron has played a key role in disaster
relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina, when it worked to control the airspace over New
Orleans in the aftermath of the country's biggest natural disaster; and
WHEREAS, this unit has been called on and has responded in an exemplary manner
to requests from other states when they were struck by disasters; and
WHEREAS, little or no input was considered from the Air National Guard
Headquarters, the Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, the Louisiana Air
National Guard Commander, the Louisiana congressional delegation, the governor, the
United States Army or England Airpark before the Department of Defense proposed to
disband the unit in order to achieve budget cuts; and SCR NO. 55 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, the 259
th
is composed of 110 proud, patriotic Louisiana citizens bravely
serving their country during perilous times who are now being told their mission is over and
their service is no longer needed; and
WHEREAS, disbanding of the 259
th
ATC will weaken Fort Polk, Alexandria
International Airport, England Airpark and the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby
memorializes the Congress of the United States to use all of its powers of oversight to
reverse this catastrophic decision by the Department of Defense to disband a vital, smooth
operating, and badly needed unit such as the 259
th
Air Traffic Control Squadron in order to
cut military spending, especially in these times of war, world conflict, and danger from
dictators and terrorists.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
governor and the appropriate agencies to take such action as they deem necessary to support
the Louisiana congressional delegation in its effort to save the 259
th
Air Traffic Control
Squadron.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress
and to the governor of the state of Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES