Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military service.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 207) recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 207, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force as an independent military service. I thank my colleague from New Mexico, Heather Wilson, in particular, for her partnership and collaboration in helping to bring this bipartisan measure before the House. I want also to recognize the outstanding leadership of the cochairs of the Air Force Caucus, Cliff Stearns of Florida, Sam Johnson of Texas, and Jim Marshall of Georgia for their participation.

Sixty years ago in July, President Truman and Congress distilled the lessons learned in World War II into landmark legislation known as the National Security Act of 1947. On September 18, the Armed Forces were reorganized under a Department of Defense, and the Air Force was established as a military department coequal to the Departments of the Army and the Navy.

The question of whether air forces should be a service on their own separate from the ground forces arose long before it was resolved in the National Security Act of 1947. Over a period of 40 years, airmen earned that recognition, beginning with the Aeronautical Division's earliest exploits in 1907, followed by the derring-do of the Army Air Service in World War I, and then by the superior performance of the Army Air Corps, later the Army Air Forces, in World War II. America's airmen performed well; so well, in fact, that when battles were fought in the air, they were won decisively, making air superiority a standing assumption.

This tradition started during World War II, with aviators like General Doolittle. During the war in North Africa and Europe, General Eisenhower and General Spaatz, as commander of the Army Air Forces, worked well together. General Eisenhower came to appreciate the capabilities of air power and the role of the Air Force in achieving victory. He called General Spaatz, ``the best operational airman in the world,'' and became persuaded that the Air Force should exist alongside and equal to the Army and the Navy. Ike compared this arrangement to a three-legged stool, where each leg is essential to the whole. It's a principle alive, well, and working today.

Since its origin, the Air Force has stayed abreast of our national security requirements, adding missiles to aircraft, and through a long cold war, deterring any attack upon our country. The Air Force is typically called when we need to gain air superiority with troops and materiel, when and wherever the need arises. Its airlift and tanker capabilities give us the advantage of remote presence. Its satellites supply us with surveillance and communication capabilities that are the gold standard, surpassing anything that any other country in the world possesses. Not only has the Air Force achieved a technical overmatch against our adversaries in the air, but in space and cyberspace as well.

In today's Air Force, over 700,000 ``Total Force Airmen'' are at work as we speak, exercising vigilance, reach, and power around the world. They are operating intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft and spacecraft, supplying early warning, real-time intelligence, and situational awareness to the war fighters on the ground. They are a critical presence in the battle space of Afghanistan and Iraq. They are lifting cargo and passengers, and using refueling assets to build air bridges, projecting power, and sustaining the fight.

Although the hardware tends to get the headlines, it is the people who make it work and who make the Air Force what it is. When General Horner came home from the Persian Gulf in 1991, I asked him who were the unsung heroes, and he answered without hesitation, ``Well, for one, it is our NCOs; their quality has literally gone out of sight.'' I was reminded of what General Horner said when I was at Shaw Air Force Base not long ago and met with the Fighting 20th and its wing commander, Colonel Post, along with airmen and women, many of them about to deploy. They will be part of some 35,000 other airmen deployed around the globe. Because of them and others like them, we have the best Air Force in the world, bar none.

This concurrent resolution is our way, as Members of Congress and citizens of this Nation, of expressing our appreciation, of recognizing the United States Air Force, its leaders and airmen, for consistently proving their worth to our Nation and helping make this the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let me conclude with the resolving clause: That Congress remembers, honors, and commends the achievements of the United States Air Force in serving and defending our country on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the United States Air Force as an independent military service.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have a long list of cosponsors on this side of the aisle for this resolution, and I had a long list of potential speakers; but due to the rearrangement of resolutions, none is here now; and I would simply yield to the gentleman from Ohio so that he can further yield his time. And if you need further time on our side, we will be glad to grant it as well.

I reserve the balance of my time, of course.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of jointness, I have now the pleasure of recognizing and yielding 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak), who is a retired naval admiral.

Mr. Speaker, I have no requests at this time on this side. I therefore yield to the gentleman. If you need some of my time, I will gladly yield it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

(Mr. NEUGEBAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. And as a former Air Force officer and veteran and one of the co-founders of the House of Representatives Air Force Caucus, I know firsthand how the Air Force provides our Nation a unique military advantage, obviously, indispensable in war and peace, to know what is happening around the globe, to lend a hand with humanitarian assistance, to deter nations that would use aggression to bully their neighbors, and to defend our Nation when we are attacked and dealt a decisive blow to our foes.

But I bring to your attention, my colleagues, something that perhaps would not be talked about, that this supremacy could be threatened. And so I wish to, in this short amount of time talk about, although the Air Force has an overwhelming advantage right now, we are now at a point where a lot of the equipment is growing old.

Our Air Force flies the oldest aircraft that we have ever had to support, and they will be getting older and more costly to maintain if nothing is done to reverse this trend.

Both our B-52s, our KC-135s average 46 years old today. In 2030 they'll be 68 years old. Our A-10s average 26 years old today. In 2030 they'll be almost 50 years old. Though the Air Force is the youngest service, it has the most to lose in the fight against complacency.

Our Air Force is constantly in demand by combat commanders around the globe, but the size of our Air Force is the smallest it's ever been in decades. The Air Force had approximately 4,400 fighters in 1985. Today we have 2,500.

In 2030 it will have fewer than 1,400. Despite technological improvements, the Air Force cannot fulfill its global missions without sufficient force structure. Aircraft simply cannot be in two places at once, whether in Korea or Afghanistan or above New York City.

So for all of its immense accomplishments, the Air Force still faces formidable challenges as it enters the seventh year of the global war on terrorism. Losing our airpower edge is not a responsible option. We must ensure this does not happen.

In closing, let me leave you with the words of one of the Air Force founders, Five-Star General Hap Arnold. His words still ring true today and are especially poignant as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force:

``Our Air Force belongs to those who come from ranks of labor, management, the farms, the stores, the professions, and colleges and legislative halls . . . Air power will always be the business of every American citizen.''

I rise today to honor and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force. The Air Force is the world's dominant source of air and space power. America can rightly claim to be the greatest military power--a power that affords us prosperity and security. This status is due in no small part to our overwhelming supremacy in air and space. However, what is most impressive is the integrity and dedication of the men and women of the Air Force who work hard everyday to ensure air supremacy.

The Air Force is the youngest of our Nation's military branches. It is able to adapt in time and space by changing position. The effects the Air Force can achieve through perspective, range and endurance are those no other military instrument can execute. Our Nation's ability to gain an advantage over our enemies by exploiting air and space is unsurpassed.

The overwhelming advantages afforded to our Nation by the Air Force can be lost through inattention to modernization or by under-funding force structure. We are now at a point, after 17 years of continuous combat--from Desert Storm, Bosnia and Kosovo to Iraq and Afghanistan today--where our Nation's continued superiority in air and space is at risk.

Our Air Force flies the oldest aircraft that we have ever had to support--and they will be getting older and more costly to maintain if nothing is done to reverse the trend. Both our B-52s and KC-135s average 46 years old today; in 2030, they will average 68 years old. Our A-10s average 26 years old today; in 2030, they will average 49 years old. Though the Air Force is the youngest service, it has the most to lose in the fight against complacency.

Our Air Force is constantly in demand by combatant commanders around the globe but the size of our Air Force is the smallest it has been in decades. The Air Force had approximately 4,400 fighters in 1985, today we have around 2,500, and in 2030 it will have fewer than 1,400. Despite technological improvements, the Air Force cannot fulfill its global missions without sufficient force structure--aircraft simply cannot be in two places at once, whether in Korea and Afghanistan or above New York City.

Never before has the Nation's ability to project military power depended so heavily on air and space capabilities. Whether it is the principal actor or a supporting force, the Air Force brings to the fight unsurpassed air, space, and cyberspace capabilities--adding strength, flexibility, and resilience to the joint force. In many cases, other U.S. military branches would not be able to carry out their missions without the Air Force.

Much has changed over the years. The Air Force is flying unmanned aircraft over Iraq and Afghanistan controlled by airmen from bases in the United States and other remote locations around the world. Moreover, investments in air and space technologies have produced precision that would have been unimaginable even 15 years ago. Accuracy of weapons is now measured in mere feet from the target.

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to pay tribute to the United States Air Force, on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary. This special day provides us with an important opportunity to recognize and honor the men and women who have made our Nation's Air Force the greatest air power in the world. As a former Captain in the U.S. Air Force myself, I shared a willingness to protect and defend the United States of America with all my fellow airmen and airwomen.

On September 18, 1947, the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted, and the U.S. Air Force was officially formed. Although it is the newest unit of the four military branches, the U.S. Air Force has rapidly evolved into a segment of our armed services that embodies the fundamental core values and aptitude of our Nation's military foundation.

In the fifth century B.C., Chinese military theorist Sun Tzu said that the ``The art of employing troops is that when the enemy occupies high ground, do not confront him.'' Drawing on the teachings of Sun Tzu and nineteenth century military historian and theorist Carl von Clausewitz, military leaders over the past 200 years have sought to perfect their craft in warfare. Until the 20th century, however, the might of a country's military forces was still incomplete. While nation-states throughout the world had successfully developed their ground and sea forces, it was not until the advent of aircraft that the nature of warfare would be altered dramatically and permanently, thus finally permitting our armed services to confront the enemy on high ground.

Still, it took time to develop the technology and practice of air power so that it matched its theoretical potential. Even though the technology for capable air power existed for the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam and Korean wars, the United States had not developed the capability of air power thoroughly enough to derive full benefit from its use until the Gulf War.

Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel John Warden, the initial architect of the gulf war's air campaign, ``Instant Thunder,'' once theorized that the most important effect that air power would have in war would be its ability to destabilize the will and morale of the enemy's military leadership. The use of American air power in the gulf war and Operation Iraqi Freedom successfully proved Colonel Warden's theory true.

The U.S. Air Force is unmatched in its technological prowess, providing air and space superiority on demand, and playing an important role in America's nuclear deterrence. The U.S. Air Force is revolutionary in that it is an expeditionary air force: It gets our ground forces to the fight, and gets our air power in the fight. Our Nation's Air Force has essentially provided our ground and naval forces with the tools necessary to successfully fight asymmetrical warfare by turning the landscape into a symmetrical one.

The Great Narrative of the next 25 years will be the contest between globalization and parochialism. As communications and technology continue to flatten the world, the connected first-world nations will benefit and their vested interest in the global order's continued smooth functioning will encourage political stability and economic development. Those nations left behind will see globalization as a hostile force and may fight against it. It is those same countries that also tend to serve as fertile breeding grounds for radical ideologies. The challenge ahead lies in folding these countries into the new global order.

The battle we face today in the global war on terror is the same battle we will face tomorrow, and it is a war we will continue to fight throughout our lifetime. In some ways, this war is not unlike the cold war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union; a monumental surgical strike will not immediately and forever decimate the enemy. This war will take time, and will require the prolonged use of a clear, inclusive, and engaging national military strategy.

Currently, our armed services continue to focus on ``muddy boots'' requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must remember that this would not be possible without the work of our Nation's Air force. In the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. Air Force paved the way for our men and women on the ground so that they could conduct military to-military training, counter-drug, counter-terrorist, and homeland defense missions in Operation Enduring Freedom.

It is my hope that as we celebrate the sixtieth birthday of the United States Air Force, we will be reminded of the tremendous sacrifices that our Air Force personnel and their families have made throughout the history of air power so that we may all continue to enjoy and pursue the opportunities afforded us by their significant role in protecting our democratic values. We must encourage innovation in the field, and I will do my part to ensure that our Air Force will be ready to meet the future with the tools they need to capitalize on new technologies, to maximize transport of equipment and military personnel, and to provide our boots on the ground with the landscape necessary to continue to deter, prevent, and punish acts of terrorism and piracy in the U.S. and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 207 recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force. Sixty years ago today, the National Security Act of 1947 established what we know as the premiere Air Force in the world. Since that time, thousands of airmen have served our Nation with pride and honor, and I am proud to recognize their service today.

The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests-- to fly and fight in air, space, and cyberspace. Air Force aircraft, tankers, and cargo planes play key roles in nearly every combat operation our Nation undertakes. Additionally, their capabilities in space have become critical to air, land, and sea combat operations and are a benefit to our entire Nation.

For the past 60 years, Air Force aircraft, missiles, and satellites have kept our Nation safe. While the many technologies and advancements have certainly contributed to our national defense, it is the most prized resource of the Air Force--its airmen--that truly make a difference for our Nation and the world. As a member of the Air Force Caucus, I am pleased to recognize the service of both current and former Air Force personnel on this 60th anniversary.

As we consider this resolution, our Nation's airmen are serving in every corner of the world, including many in Alabama's Second Congressional District. I am proud to represent Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, home of Air University, along with the 42nd Air Base Wing, the Operations and Sustainment Support Group, the 908th Airlift Wing, the 754th Electronic Systems Group, the Air Force Logistics Management Agency, and the newest squadron in the Air Force, the 100th Fighter Squadron. The 100th Fighter Squadron is special because it was the squadron of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and I am pleased that this squadron will call Montgomery home.

Air University is a major component of Air Education and Training Command and is the Air Force's center for professional military education. Air University provides the full spectrum of Air Force education, from pre-commissioning to the highest levels of professional military education, including degree granting and professional continuing education for officers, enlisted and civilian personnel throughout their careers.

Air University's Professional Military Education programs educate airmen on the capabilities of air and space power and its role in national security. These programs focus on the knowledge and abilities needed to develop, employ, command, and support air and space power at the highest levels. Additionally, Air University conducts research in air and space power, education, leadership, and management and contributes to the development and testing of Air Force doctrine, concepts and strategy.

This year the Air Force also celebrates the 25th birthday of Air Force Space Command. As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I am privileged to work with some of the finest in the Air Force on a set of programs that I believe will only become more important to our future security. Our world is becoming increasingly dependent on assets and platforms in space, and America's Air Force is meeting the challenges of the 21st Century security environment.

During the cold war, Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft kept us safe by keeping watch on the Soviets. I am proud to note that I served as an Intelligence Analyst supporting this platform from 1955-1959 in West Germany. These aircraft performed a number of critically important missions and made a vital contribution to our National defense.

Air and missile crews manning nuclear bombers and ICBMs provided our Nation with a powerful strategic deterrent. These capabilities were a major component of our ``Peace Through Strength'' policy that enabled the United States to win the cold war, and I think it is appropriate for Congress to recognize the dedicated service of countless numbers of airmen who protected our Nation during this time.

As the Air Force ushers in its next 60 years, we can be assured it will be postured to meet new challenges in air, space, and cyberspace. As a member of the Air Force Caucus, I am proud to provide for the needs of current and future force. Although the service is the youngest of the branches of our Armed Forces, there is no question that the Air Force has made, is making, and will continue to make an extraordinary contribution to our nation's defense.

As a nation, we are indebted to the Air Force for its commitment and sacrifice. I congratulate Secretary Wynne, General Moseley, and the entire Air Force team for 60 years of dedicated service and defense of our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago President Harry Truman, through the National Security Act of 1947, created the United States Air Force and ended a 40-year association with the U.S. Army. This move signaled the dawning of a new age and placed airpower in its proper place as a vital element of our Nation's defense.

Airpower had proven its worth to President Truman and many others over those 40 years. From Military Air Balloon success in World War I, to Billy Mitchell's airpower demonstration off Virginia's coast, to the Doolittle Raids and the devastating bombing raids in World War II, airpower allowed our military commanders to fight for and defend our Nation as never before.

Creating a separate Air Force allowed our brave service men and women to fully concentrate on honing the skills and pushing the ever- expanding envelope of airpower.

In Georgia today, we have Air National Guard and/or Air Force Reserve units at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Robins Air Force Base, Savannah, Macon and Brunswick as well as active-duty units at Moody Air Force Base.

And whether it is C-130s from the 165th Airlift Wing or men and women from the 117th Air Control Squadron which just won the 2007 Outstanding Air Control Squadron award from the National Guard Association of the United States, each of Georgia's units and the outstanding men and women who serve in them contribute around the world fighting the Global War on Terrorism. They also provide a formidable force in the face of disaster here at home, as was seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when rescue helicopters from Moody teamed up with other Air Force rescue units to save more than 4,300 people from the disastrous and deadly storm.

Dobbins, Robins and Moody can all trace their beginnings to the Army and the 1940-1941 timeframe when the War Department was making preparations in case the United States went to war--which came to fruition on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese declared War on the United States and attacked Pearl Harbor.

Dobbins began as Rickenbacker Field, but was re-named in 1950 in honor of Captain Charles M. Dobbins of Marietta, whose airplane was shot down during the war near Sicily.

Robins is named after Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins, one of the Army Air Corps' first General Staff Officers. The Warner Robins Air Logistic Center which preceded the base is also named after the General.

Moody is named after MAJ George Putnam Moody, an early Air Force pioneer killed in May 1941 while serving with the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kan. At the time of his death, the major was working on the inspection board for AT-10 transitional trainers which were later sent to Moody.

While each base has a rich history, Moody began a new chapter in its history just recently when the 23rd Fighter Group relocated to Moody and began flying A-10 missions in the skies over Valdosta.

The 23rd Fighter Group also known as the ``Flying Tigers'' was formed under the command of General Claire Chennault and was part of his China Air Task Force, taking over the mission of the disbanded American volunteer group ``Flying Tigers.'' Several of the original Flying Tigers flew with the 23rd Fighter Group in the China-Burma-India Theater, passing on their knowledge and experience.

Like Mitchell before him, Chennault was another early pioneer and controversial figure who made today's Air Force possible. He argued vehemently for the fighter plane in the 1930s--a time when the rise of the bomber aircraft had consumed the Air Corps experts and were the focus for their tactics.

In fact, it was his continued belief and passionate advocacy for the fighter that led to his isolation at the famed Air Tactical School and eventually drove him to become an advisor in China and the rest as we say is history.

Today we mark the Air Force's 60th birthday in order to reflect on its heroes of the past, and more importantly, to recognize the courage and sacrifice our airmen and their families make each and every day for our freedom. Quite simply, I salute you.