Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “America Needs Eielson Air Force Base Act of 2013”.
America Needs Eielson Air Force Base Act of 2013
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Air Force to retain the current leadership rank, aircraft, and core functions of the 354th Fighter Wing and the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base and to require reports on proposed activities at such installation.
Sec. 2 Retention of leadership rank, aircraft, and core functions of the 354th Fighter Wing and the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
The Secretary of the Air Force shall retain the current leadership rank, aircraft, and core functions of the 354th Fighter Wing and the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, with the same integrated mission elements, responsibilities, and capabilities as existed as of November 1, 2011, until the later of—
the date that is 180 days after the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force submits to the congressional defense committees the report required under section 363 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239); and
the date the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees the report required under section 3(a).
Sec. 3 Additional reports required
Report on strategic importance—
In general— The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategic importance of Eielson Air Force Base.
Content— The report required under paragraph (1) shall include—
an analysis of the strategic value of Eielson Air Force Base to operations in the Pacific Area of Responsibility and elsewhere; including the geographic advantage of Eielson Air Force Base in global deployment of airpower, military personnel, and logistical support;
the usefulness of Eielson Air Force Base to potential future missions, including military and humanitarian missions in a changing Arctic region;
the basing of F–35 aircraft;
the potential for relocation of combat coded aircraft from overseas bases;
maintenance and expansion of the North Pacific air refueling bridge;
remote piloted vehicle basing; and
proximity of Eielson Air Force Base to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision—
In general— The Secretary of the Air Force may not change the aircraft or core functions of the 354th Fighter Wing and the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, or the integrated mission elements, responsibilities, and capabilities that existed at such installation as of November 1, 2011, until the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement and a Record of Decision relating to the proposed changes.
Consideration of strategic importance report information— The Environmental Impact Statement shall assess the information submitted in the report required under subsection (a) and the Record of Decision shall reconcile the action decided upon with the findings of the report.
Sec. 4 Congressional defense committees defined
In this Act, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 5 Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to relieve the Secretary of the Air Force of the obligation to comply with any other conditions precedent in law or regulation which govern any proposed modification to current operations at Eielson Air Force Base after the dates referred to in sections 2 and 3.