III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 561 

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the North American Aerospace 

Defense Command. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 13, 2008 

Mr. ALLARD (for himself, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. 

HAGEL, and Mr. NELSON of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

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; 


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•SRES 561 ATS 

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; 


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•SRES 561 ATS 

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 


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•SRES 561 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the contributions made by the 

3 North American Aerospace Defense Command to the 

4 security of North America; and 

5 (2) commemorates 50 years of excellence and 

6 distinctive service to the United States and Canada. 

Æ 


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