General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Encourages each local education agency that operates a high school to participate in the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Career Exploration Program and make the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery tests widely available to all high school students in Tennessee. -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Scott Cepicky

Alabama lawmakers express official support to recapitalize the 117th ARW from KC-135 to KC-46A, urging federal action to boost national defense readiness and local economy.

Received from House, refer to Senate Education Committee

#generalassembly #statementofintentorposition

Overview

HJR 66 is an Alabama House and Senate concurrent resolution enacted to express formal legislative support for recapitalizing the 117th Air Refueling Wing’s KC-135 Stratotanker fleet to the KC-46A Pegasus at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham. The measure signals the Legislature’s intent for federal leadership to prioritize and approve the recapitalization. It is a non-binding resolution intended to convey the state’s official stance and advocacy.

Key Provisions

Expresses full and unequivocal support for recapitalizing the KC-135 to the KC-46A Pegasus for the 117th Air Refueling Wing (117th ARW) at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base.

Urges action by federal authorities, specifically the United States Secretary of the Air Force and the National Guard Bureau, as well as other relevant federal entities, to prioritize and approve the recapitalization effort.

Calls for copies of the resolution to be provided to:

Alabama congressional delegation
Secretary of the Air Force
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Alabama National Guard
Leadership of the 117th ARW

Characterizes the effort as aligning with national defense priorities and Alabama’s defense-readiness commitments, emphasizing potential positive impacts on national security and the local economy.

Background and Rationale

The 117th ARW, based at the Birmingham-based Sumpter Smith facility, is highlighted as a critical component of national defense, providing essential air refueling for USAF and allied forces.

The KC-135 has served for decades but faces age-related operational and maintenance challenges. The KC-46A Pegasus is presented as offering advanced capabilities, including greater fuel capacity, improved communications, and better interoperability.

The resolution frames recapitalization as both a national-security enhancement and a local economic driver, noting potential job stability/creation in the Birmingham area.

Who Is Affected

Directly: The 117th Air Refueling Wing (Alabama National Guard) and personnel at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base.

Indirectly: Federal defense agencies (Secretary of the Air Force, National Guard Bureau) and Alabama’s congressional delegation, as well as the broader Alabama defense community and local economy.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: February 13, 2025.

Legislative actions progressed through Rules committees and both chambers with rapid movement:

House and Senate received and referred to Rules; reported from Rules; adopted in February 2025.
Enrolled and ready to enroll in early March 2025.
Enacted: March 19, 2025.
Copies and official transmission to governor and relevant parties occurred around March 2025 (delivery to Governor noted March 5–4, 2025 in the record).

Status: Enacted as a resolution conveying formal state support; it does not enact funding or new law but represents official endorsement and advocacy.

Impact and Implications

Serves as a unified state voice urging federal prioritization of the KC-135-to-KC-46A recapitalization.

Signals continued Alabama commitment to national defense readiness and highlights potential positive economic and employment effects for the Birmingham area.

May influence federal consideration by signaling bipartisan, state-level backing for modernization of Air Force aerial refueling capabilities.

Bill