[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 223 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 223
Honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and
the contributions of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to the military
and national security of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2025
Mr. James (for himself, Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Bergman, Ms.
Scholten, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. McClain, Mr. Moolenaar, Ms.
McDonald Rivet, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Walberg) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and
the contributions of Selfridge Air National Guard Base to the military
and national security of the United States.
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is named after Army 1st Lieutenant
Thomas E. Selfridge, the first aerial military casualty during a
demonstration flight with Orville Wright in 1908;
Whereas the Army commissioned Selfridge Field in Harrison Township, Michigan, on
July 1, 1917, and it is one of the oldest military airfields in the
United States still in use;
Whereas the 332d Fighter Group of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African-
American unit, moved to Selfridge Field on March 29, 1943, and Colonel
Benjamin O. Davis became the first African-American commander on October
8, 1943;
Whereas, on July 1, 1971, Selfridge Field was transferred to the Michigan Air
National Guard, becoming the first major Air Force installation under
the jurisdiction of the Michigan Air National Guard;
Whereas, on April 1, 1996, the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was
established at Selfridge Air National Guard Base;
Whereas, after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001,
Selfridge Air National Guard Base became a key center for security
operations to protect and secure the northern border of the United
States;
Whereas the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was the 2016 recipient
of the Carl A. Spaatz Award, a prestigious award given to the best
flying organization in the Air National Guard, and was awarded the
Meritorious Unit Award in the same year for ``outstanding devotion and
exceptional performance'';
Whereas opportunities for investment in aerospace, as well as more fighter
missions, will keep Selfridge Air National Guard Base successful and
will contribute to a dominant Air Force and to a strong national
defense;
Whereas annual joint service and international Northern Strike exercises,
combined with the critical manufacturing base of the ``Arsenal of
Democracy'', position the State of Michigan as an invaluable cornerstone
of national defense and aerospace;
Whereas the State of Michigan is home to the ``Arsenal of Democracy'' along with
the United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, the United
States Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and Selfridge Air
National Guard Base;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base finds itself surrounded by premier
institutions of higher education and with ample space and resources to
become a hub of defense and aerospace research and innovation;
Whereas the resolute support of residents of Macomb County, Michigan, and
elected officials of the State of Michigan has resulted in continued
investment and resources from the Federal Government for Selfridge Air
National Guard Base and the defense industry in the State of Michigan;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a source of community pride and
enjoys unparalleled community support;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base generates hundreds of millions of
dollars to the surrounding cities and townships of the State of Michigan
and supports over 4,500 jobs;
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a joint military installation and
home to many national security assets of the United States, including
assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard;
Whereas, on January 12, 2024, Selfridge Air National Guard Base was selected by
the United States Air Force for a beddown of twelve KC-46A Pegasus
tanker aircraft; and
Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base provides a strategic location for
northern border security and homeland defense in response to any threats
coming from the north through Canada and the Great Lakes region: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison
Township, Michigan, on its 108th anniversary;
(2) commends the thousands of men and women who have worked
and trained at Selfridge Air National Guard Base;
(3) reinforces the commitment of the Armed Forces to
Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a facility that is key to
the national security of United States;
(4) encourages continued cooperation and dialogue with the
Department of Defense in support of Selfridge Air National
Guard Base; and
(5) acknowledges the ongoing investments of the State of
Michigan in its defense assets and workforce and continued
contributions to the defense of the United States.
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