2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 55
June 14, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives KURTZ, EDMING, ALLEN, C.
ANDERSON, BINSFELD, BRANDTJEN, DUCHOW, GREEN, GUSTAFSON, KITCHENS,
KRUG, MAGNAFICI, MAXEY, MICHALSKI, MURPHY, MURSAU, NEDWESKI, NOVAK,
O'CONNOR, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PENTERMAN, PETRYK, PLUMER, RETTINGER, SCHRAA,
SINICKI, SPIROS, STEFFEN, STUBBS, SWEARINGEN, VANDERMEER, WITTKE and
ZIMMERMAN, cosponsored by Senators MARKLEIN, CABRAL-GUEVARA,
HESSELBEIN, JAGLER, KNODL and NASS. Referred to Committee on Rules.
1 Relating to: recognizing the many federal, state, and local contributions of the
2 115th Fighter Wing.
3 Whereas, after reviewing 18 potential locations, the U.S. Air Force selected
4 Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Wisconsin as the preferred location for one
5 of the next two Air National Guard F-35A bases; and
6 Whereas, F-35As will allow the Air Force to maintain its air dominance
7 capabilities and allow service members to conduct their missions with greater safety,
8 which benefits our country as a whole; and
9 Whereas, the F-35As arrival started on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Truax Field;
10 and
11 Whereas, F-35As will replace the Block 30 F-16s flown by the 115th Fighter
12 Wing, which are the oldest model F-16s in the Air Force, and this will ensure the
13 long-term viability of Truax Field; and
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1 Whereas, for 75 years there has been an uninterrupted Air Force mission at
2 Truax Field, and the F-35As will be the 10th different airframe flown from Truax
3 Field; and
4 Whereas, the F-35 mission enhances the economic impact of the 115th Fighter
5 Wing by continuing its $100 million of economic output and 1,650 in-state jobs and
6 creating 64 new jobs; and
7 Whereas, the F-35 mission is providing up to $120 million in improvements to
8 the Dane County Regional Airport and creating hundreds of construction jobs with
9 a total economic impact to the region of more than $3.3 billion; and
10 Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing, the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee,
11 and the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) are intricately linked
12 and benefit from their proximity to each other, which would further increase the
13 F-35 mission's economic impact on the state of Wisconsin; and
14 Whereas, there is widespread bipartisan support for basing the F-35s at Truax
15 Field from federal, state, and community leaders who recognize and appreciate the
16 importance of the 115th Fighter Wing's dual federal and state missions; and
17 Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing has deployed overseas to defend and protect
18 our nation; mobilized in response to statewide emergencies and natural disasters;
19 and responded locally to incidents at the airport and in the surrounding community;
20 now, therefore, be it
21 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin
22 Legislature does hereby recognize the many federal, state, and local contributions
23 of the 115th Fighter Wing and welcomes the next generation of freedom fighting
24 aircraft to the state of Wisconsin.
25 (END)