Jim Ryun: “I would like to offer an example of the United States Armed Forces continually being asked to do more with less. Within…”

“I would like to offer an example of the United States Armed Forces continually being asked to do more with less. Within the district I represent, the Second District of the great State of Kansas, resides the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. This wing is responsible for a variety of support operations around the world. In the past year, under the stress of continued deployment, the wing has sent personnel and aircraft to Iceland, to Germany, to France, to Turkey, and to Alaska as well. However, Mr. Speaker, the newest KC-135 aircraft used by the 190th was built in 1963. 1963. The oldest aircraft was built in 1956. The President's budget forces the wing to use that aircraft until 2040. That would make the existing aircraft nearly 80 years old. Mr. Speaker, would my colleagues be comfortable flying into a military confrontation in an 80-year-old aircraft? I doubt that we would. So we must not ask our young pilots to go into combat in an aircraft that would be considered antique in any other area. We must increase defense spending to give our military personnel the equipment they need to remain the world's premier military force.”