A resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Whereas, on May 12, 1958, the United States and Canada signed an official agreement creating the bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and formally acknowledged their mutual commitment to defending their citizens from air attacks;

Whereas 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the outstanding efforts of American and Canadian service men and women defending North America;

Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command is a unique and fully integrated bi-national United States and Canadian command;

Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and administered by the United States Air Force, with 3 subordinate regional centers located at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and Canadian Forces Base, Winnipeg, Manitoba;

Whereas the mission of the North American Aerospace Defense Command is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted, and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within those airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America;

Whereas, through joint support arrangements with other commands, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, including United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, detects, validates, and warns of attacks against North America whether by aircraft, missile, or space vehicle;

Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) joint command center serves as a central collection and coordination site for a worldwide system of sensors designed to provide the commander and the governments of Canada and the United States with an accurate picture of any aerospace threat;

Whereas the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command provides integrated tactical warning and attack assessments to the governments of the United States and Canada;

Whereas the North American Aerospace Defense Command uses a network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radar, fighters and helicopters, and ground-based air defense systems to detect, intercept, and, if necessary, engage any air-breathing threats to North America;

Whereas North American Aerospace Defense Command assists in the detection and monitoring of aircraft suspected of illegal drug trafficking;

Whereas the Alaskan NORAD Region located at Elmendorf Air Force Base is supported by both the Eleventh Air Force and Air National Guard units;

Whereas the May 2006 North American Aerospace Defense Command Agreement renewal added a maritime warning mission to its slate of responsibilities, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the ongoing activities conducted in United States and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas, and inland waterways;

Whereas the horrific events of September 11, 2001, demonstrated the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s continued relevance to North American security;

Whereas, since 2001, the Continental NORAD region, which is divided into 2 defense sectors—the Western Defense Sector, with its headquarters located at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, and the Eastern Defense Sector, with its headquarters located at Rome, New York—has been the lead agency for Operation Noble Eagle, an ongoing mission to protect the continental United States from further airborne aggression from inside and outside of America’s borders;

Whereas, in the spring of 2003, North American Aerospace Defense Command fighters based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, intercepted 2 hijacked aircraft that originated in Cuba and escorted them to Key West, Florida;

Whereas the continued service with valor and honor of American and Canadian men and women serving at the North American Aerospace Defense Command is central to North America’s ability to confront and successfully defeat threats of the 21st century; and

Whereas the continuation of the longstanding and successful relationship between the United States and Canada through the North American Aerospace Defense Command is paramount to the future security of the people of the United States and Canada: Now, therefore, be it