HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 91-4675, by Representatives Haugen and Wilson

     WHEREAS, The Whidbey Island Naval Air Station was established in Oak Harbor in 1942 to provide for the national defense; and

     WHEREAS, The Naval Air Station currently employs 8,100 members of the military and 1,750 civilians; and

     WHEREAS, There are 23 squadrons assigned to the base, including 13 Tactical Electronic Warfare squadrons that fly EA-6B aircraft, eight A-6E Intruder bomber squadrons, two training units for those aircraft, and several Navy and Marine Corps reserve units; and

     WHEREAS, More than 2,500 military personnel from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station performed valiantly in the recent war with Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, The Navy's fleet of A-6E Intruder bombers is expected to play a vital role in the United States' air defense for years to come; and

     WHEREAS, The federal government has spent millions of dollars at the base to build a new hospital, a new commissary, training facilities for pilots, and a new administration building for reserve officers -- all completed within the past year; and

     WHEREAS, More than half of Island County's military and civilian work force is employed at the base; and

     WHEREAS, The $273 million annual payroll of the naval air station represents nearly half of the total income of Island County; and

     WHEREAS, The economy of Oak Harbor and all of Island County would be devastated by the loss of the base; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Oak Harbor and Island County have supported the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in times of war and of peace; and

     WHEREAS, Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney on April 12, 1991, formally recommended the closure of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station; and

     WHEREAS, A bipartisan commission appointed by the Bush administration will decide by July 15, 1991, whether to forward that recommendation to the United States Congress for implementation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington deplores the Defense Department's recommendation to close the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and declares its support for the continued operation of the base at Oak Harbor.

             I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

             Resolution 4675 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                 April 12, 1991.

                         ________________________________

               Alan Thompson, Chief Clerk, House of Representatives