AJR55,,112023 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.
AJR55,,22Relating to: recognizing the many federal, state, and local contributions of the 115th Fighter Wing. AJR55,,33Whereas, after reviewing 18 potential locations, the U.S. Air Force selected Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Wisconsin as the preferred location for one of the next two Air National Guard F-35A bases; and AJR55,,44Whereas, F-35As will allow the Air Force to maintain its air dominance capabilities and allow service members to conduct their missions with greater safety, which benefits our country as a whole; and AJR55,,55Whereas, the F-35As arrival started on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Truax Field; and AJR55,,66Whereas, F-35As will replace the Block 30 F-16s flown by the 115th Fighter Wing, which are the oldest model F-16s in the Air Force, and this will ensure the long-term viability of Truax Field; and AJR55,,77Whereas, for 75 years there has been an uninterrupted Air Force mission at Truax Field, and the F-35As will be the 10th different airframe flown from Truax Field; and AJR55,,88Whereas, the F-35 mission enhances the economic impact of the 115th Fighter Wing by continuing its $100 million of economic output and 1,650 in-state jobs and creating 64 new jobs; and AJR55,,99Whereas, the F-35 mission is providing up to $120 million in improvements to the Dane County Regional Airport and creating hundreds of construction jobs with a total economic impact to the region of more than $3.3 billion; and AJR55,,1010Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing, the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, and the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) are intricately linked and benefit from their proximity to each other, which would further increase the F-35 mission’s economic impact on the state of Wisconsin; and AJR55,,1111Whereas, there is widespread bipartisan support for basing the F-35s at Truax Field from federal, state, and community leaders who recognize and appreciate the importance of the 115th Fighter Wing’s dual federal and state missions; and AJR55,,1212Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing has deployed overseas to defend and protect our nation; mobilized in response to statewide emergencies and natural disasters; and responded locally to incidents at the airport and in the surrounding community; now, therefore, be it AJR55,,1313Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin Legislature does hereby recognize the many federal, state, and local contributions of the 115th Fighter Wing and welcomes the next generation of freedom fighting aircraft to the state of Wisconsin.
