Discusses a report on the North Amer. Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) and the DoD air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. Air attacks are still a threat to the U.S. and its people. To address this threat, NORAD and DoD have fully fueled, fully armed aircraft and trained personnel on alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 18 ASA sites across the U.S. This testimony discusses whether: (1) NORAD conducts risk assessments to determine the appropriate operational requirements; (2) the Air Force has implemented ASA operations as a steady-state mission, which would require programming funding; and (3) the Air Force has developed a plan to address the recapitalization challenges to sustaining ASA operations for the future. Illus.

The North Amer. Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is to defend U.S. air space and the U.S. Air Force (AF) has 18 sites in the U.S. that conduct air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. ASA operations support fighter aircraft in conducting homeland air defense operations. This report examined the extent to which: (1) NORAD has adopted a risk-based mgmt. approach to determine ASA operational requirements; (2) the AF has implemented ASA operations as a steady-state mission in accordance with DoD, NORAD, and AF directives and guidance; (3) the AF assesses the readiness of units conducting ASA operations; and (4) the AF faces challenges in sustaining ASA operations for the future and what plans, if any, it has to address such challenges. Charts.

Some vols. include supplemental journals of "such proceedings of the sessions, as, during the time they were depending, were ordered to be kept secret, and respecting which the injunction of secrecy was afterwards taken off by the order of the House."

This book recounts an unique chapter in the National Guard's efforts to keep America's borders secure. Starting in June 2006 and lasting until July 2008, Operation Jump Start exhibited unprecedented cooperation and teamwork among federal agencies engaged in protecting the homeland. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol and the National Guard created a cooperative, operational environment that will endure as an example on how to do things right. Based in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, the Operation's mission was not to close the nation's border with Mexico but to make it more secure for legal immigration and commerce. By the time Operation Jump start ended, criminal activities of all types had declined along the border, and physical improvements made by Guard engineers along the border seemed certain to reduce illegal activities for the forseeable future.