IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1010 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States 
Air Force faces significant readiness challenges due to insufficient per-
sonnel levels, a shrinking and depleted aircraft fleet, and maintenance 
deferrals, all of which are affected by budgetary uncertainty and impede 
the Air Force’s ability to meet ongoing and unexpected national security 
threats, putting United States national security at risk. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 23, 2018 
Mr. ARRINGTON (for himself, Mr. BACON, and Ms. CHENEY) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States Air Force faces significant readiness 
challenges due to insufficient personnel levels, a shrink-
ing and depleted aircraft fleet, and maintenance defer-
rals, all of which are affected by budgetary uncertainty 
and impede the Air Force’s ability to meet ongoing and 
unexpected national security threats, putting United 
States national security at risk. 
Whereas according to Air Force Chief of Staff General David 
Goldfein, the United States Air Force is ‘‘the smallest 
we’ve ever been’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:17 Jul 24, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1010.IH
HR1010
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1010 IH 
Whereas according to an April 2018 report from the Govern-
ment Accountability Office, more than a quarter of fight-
er pilot positions are unfilled; 
Whereas the Air Force has just 18,000 of the roughly 20,000 
pilots it needs to crew its 5,500 fighters, bombers, 
airlifters, cargo planes, and rescue helicopters; 
Whereas this 10 percent gap in its air crew requirement 
could, as Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said 
in November of 2017, ‘‘break the force’’; 
Whereas almost 1⁄3 of the Air Force’s aircraft were not 
flyable, or mission-capable, at any given time in fiscal 
year 2017; 
Whereas over the last decade, the total number of aircraft in 
the Air Force has been on a downward slope; 
Whereas the total number of aircraft in the Air Force will 
drop again from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018; 
Whereas the average age of an aircraft, forcewide, increased 
from 24 years in fiscal year 2010 to 27.6 years in fiscal 
year 2017; and 
Whereas between fiscal years 2013 and 2017, accidents in-
volving all Defense Department warplanes rose nearly 40 
percent: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) the United States Air Force faces signifi-
cant readiness challenges due to aging aircraft and 
depleted personnel; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:17 Jul 24, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR1010.IH
HR1010
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1010 IH 
(2) Congress must provide the Air Force reg-
ular and sufficient funding to address procurement, 
maintenance, and staffing shortfalls; and 
(3) without this funding, United States national 
security is at risk. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:17 Jul 24, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1010.IH
HR1010
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS