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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, It is a core mission of the National Guard to
3 provide the states with units that are trained and equipped to
4 protect life and property; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The Fire Department of the 183rd Fighter Wing of
6 the Illinois Air National Guard is such a unit; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Department, which is based out of the Abraham
8 Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois, provides
9 invaluable people, equipment, and resources for meeting the
10 State's needs in responding to emergencies and natural
11 disasters; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In 2005, the U.S. Defense Base Closure and
13 Realignment Commission announced that the 183rd Fighter Wing
14 would lose it's F-16 aircraft; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The National Guard Bureau announced that, without
16 a flying mission, the firefighter positions for the 183rd would
17 be eliminated as of April 1, 2008; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The removal of the Fire Department at the 183rd
19 would have a substantial negative impact on the safety of the
20 flying public, on the emergency-response capabilities of

 

 

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1 Springfield and the surrounding communities, and on those
2 communities' ability to respond to natural disasters and to
3 homeland security; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United
6 States Congress and the National Guard Bureau to take all
7 necessary steps to ensure that the Fire Department of the 183rd
8 remains located at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in
9 Springfield, Illinois for the protection and preservation of
10 the lives and property of citizens of Central Illinois; and be
11 it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to
13 Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard
14 Bureau, the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the
15 Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each member
16 of the Illinois congressional delegation.