IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 200

Expressing the sense of Congress in opposition to the retirement of 33

B–1 Lancer aircraft as proposed by the Air Force.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 25, 2001

Mr. TIAHRT (for himself and Mr. CHAMBLISS) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress in opposition to the retirement of 33 B–1 Lancer aircraft as proposed by the

Air Force.

Whereas the United States Air Force has proposed retiring

33 of a total of 93 B–1 Lancer bomber aircraft and consolidating operations of the remaining 60 B–1 aircraft

from five bases to two as part of the Air Force Program

Budget Decision (PBD) 824;

Whereas the 33 B–1 Lancer aircraft proposed to be retired

include all of the B–1 aircraft that are assigned to units

of the Air National Guard;

Whereas the Air National Guard has been an integral part

of the ‘‘total force’’ structure of the Air Force, but this

consolidation would in effect eliminate the Air National

Guard as a participant in the ‘‘total force’’ concept;
2

•HCON 200 IH

Whereas the Air National Guard has a proud history of flying

combat missions in support of United States national interests;

Whereas the Department of Defense did not consult with

Congress before making the B–1 retirement and consolidation decision in PBD 824;

Whereas the Air Force did not consult with the Air National

Guard before making that decision;

Whereas the Air Force initiated a paper clearly stating certain political effects of that decision, thus calling into

question the strategic value of the decision;

Whereas the Air Force has not produced a follow-on mission

for the Air National Guard units and members who will

be affected by the decision, although thousands of Air

National Guard members with years of experience operating the B–1 combat system will have to be retrained

for other missions and many of those personnel will simply lose their jobs;

Whereas all of the pilots from Air National Guard bases flying B–1 aircraft will be out of work at a time when the

Air Force is experiencing a shortage of pilots;

Whereas, while it is the case that the B–1 aircraft must be

modernized in order to be an effective fighting force in

the future, the Air Force program budget decision was

made without any strategic planning or in the context of

a larger force structure review; and

Whereas Congress needs time to review and determine what

the proper number of B–1 aircraft is: Now, therefore, be

it
3

•HCON 200 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress does not support the proposed

3 retirement of 33 of a total of 93 B–1 Lancer aircraft and

4 consolidation of the operations of the remaining 60 B–

5 1 Lancer aircraft from five bases to two as part of the

6 Air Force Program Budget Decision (PBD) 824, and that

7 proposed retirement and consolidation should be deferred

8 during fiscal year 2002 while Congress review the pro9 posed retirement and consolidation.

10 SEC. 2. It is the sense of Congress that all procure11 ment and research and development funds for the B–1 air12 craft program in the President’s fiscal year 2002 budget

13 for the Department of Defense should be reallocated to

14 the Operations and Maintenance account for the Air Na15 tional Guard, to be available for continued operations of

16 the 33 B–1 bomber aircraft proposed to be retired in Air

17 Force Program Budget Decision 824.

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