WASHINGTON – Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), alongside Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Andy Harris (R-MD), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), John James (R-MI), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), introduced H.R 1851, the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act. This legislation preserves U.S. Air Force (USAF) fighter force structure and prioritizes the recapitalization of the 39 service-retained, combat-coded fighter squadrons available to the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) to respond globally to world events across the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve fighter fleets.

 

H.R. 1851 establishes requirements for future fighter procurement to restore and modernize our aging fighter fleet and directs robust reporting requirements to ensure close congressional oversight of USAF fighter modernization. It also prioritizes recapitalization of USAF Active Duty, Guard and Reserve units that are based in the homeland to improve the readiness of our Total Force fighter formations. Over the last thirty years, the Air Force fighter force structure has been reduced by nearly sixty percent, while the average age of fighter aircraft has increased by two hundred percent.  

 

The sponsors issued a joint statement:

 

 

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