WHEREAS, Delaware citizens and business leaders have expressed understandable concerns regarding the future of Dover Air Force Base (Dover AFB) and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport; and

WHEREAS, this critical issue deserves careful and thorough review by an concerned group of experts, citizens, and state officials so that needed and appropriate measures can be taken; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB covers more than 3,900 acres, has two runways, and 1,700 buildings, and supports 18 tenant units both on and off-base; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard facilities on New Castle County Airport covers more than 100 acres, has two runways, and 36 buildings; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard has both Delaware Air National Guard and Delaware Army National Guard facilities and aircraft maintained on the New Castle on the New Castle County Airport; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB has an economic impact of more than $400 million on the local economy and ranks as Delaware’s fifth largest employer and the largest in Kent County; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport has an economic impact of more than $100 million on the local economy; and

WHEREAS, more than 4,200 military, 1,200 civilians and 2,500 reservists work at Dover AFB; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,000 military members, 400 of which are fulltime, work for the Delaware National Guard on the New Castle County Airport; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport provide the State with modern aircraft such as the Delaware Air National Guard's eight C-130 cargo planes, and the Delaware Army National Guard's UH-1 and Black Hawk helicopters; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB provides more airlift capability than any other base in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB has had the busiest two years since the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB is the home to the 436^th Airlift Wing, know as the "Eagle Wing" and the 512^th Airlift Wing, the Air Force Reserve associate, referred to as the "Liberty Wing"; together these two wings make up the "Dover Team"; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard located on New Castle County Airport is the home of the 166^th Airlift Wing and multiple Army Aviation units with a heritage at the facility dating back to World War II; and together these units make up the "Delaware National Guard" aviation team; and

WHEREAS, the 436^th Airlift Wing operates the largest and busiest aerial port in the Department of Defense and moves more cargo than Federal Express and UPS combined; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard plays a significant role in major military operations such as OPERATION Iraqi Freedom, OPERATION Enduring Freedom and OPERATION Noble Eagle; and

WHEREAS, the 436^th Airlift Wing is the only combat-ready C-5 unit capable of employing airdrop and special operations tactics in support of worldwide airlift; and

WHEREAS, due to the military presence on the New Castle County Airport, the Delaware National Guard provides significant resources to the New Castle County Airport by providing maintenance support for the runways and providing a 24 hours a day, aviation specialized fire and rescue operation supporting both military aircraft and civilian aircraft operations and their facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard plays a vital role in Homeland Security in New

Castle County by providing at the New Castle County Airport, highly secured, controlled access facilities protected fulltime by the 166^th Security Forces Squadron capable of warehousing emergency medical vaccine and other items essential to maintaining public safety during emergency contingencies in support of the northern area of the state; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware National Guard is the "Hometown Force" for Delaware and is the only military under the direct authority of the Governor and the New Castle County Airport location provides the Governor with a large and ready force in the northern and most populated county in the State; and

WHEREAS, the Charles E. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs is the only joint services mortuary in the continental United States; and

WHEREAS, Dover AFB is the home to the Air Mobility Command Museum which welcomed more than 50,000 visitors in 1998 alone,

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 142^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House concurring therein, that an independent, bi-partisan Task Force study and develop strategies for Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport from possible downsizing enhancing and protecting the region’s economy and jobs. In addition, the Task Force will consult with Delaware’s Congressional delegation to create a long-term plan that will be beneficial to all sectors of Kent and New Castle Counties and the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is vital for the creation of this Task Force as the Department of Defense prepares for another round of closures in 2005 under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) and the possible downsizing of Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport. This closure act calls for a 25 percent reduction in military bases across the nation by 2005.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force review and study the long term viability of the C5, C17 and C130 planes and the UH1 and the UH60 Black Hawk helicopters as it impacts the mission of the US Air Force and US Army and in particular Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force of the study of Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport shall serve without compensation, be comprised of 16 members: 1 appointed by the Governor; 2 appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of which will be the Co-Chair of the Task Force; 1 appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of which will be Co-Chair of the Task Force; 1 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; The Adjutant General or their designee; The Secretary of the Delaware Economic Development Office or their designee; The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control or their designee; Delaware River and Bay Authority President or their designee; Mayor of the City of Dover or their designee; New Castle County Council President or their designee; Kent County Levy Court President or their designee; President of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce or their designee; President of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce or their designee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the first meeting of the Task Force shall be held no later than 30 days after enactment of this Resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force hold public meetings and/or hearings and call before it witnesses to testify on issues relevant to this Resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations regarding the possible downsizing of Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard facilities on the New Castle County Airport to the Governor and the members of the 142^nd General Assembly by June 1, 2004.

Author: Senator Still