[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 631 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 631

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 29, 2009.
Whereas Continental Airlines was founded 75 years ago by Walter T. Varney and 
        his partner Louis Mueller as Varney Speed Lines in West Texas primarily 
        as a mail service;
Whereas, on July 15, 1934, Continental's first flight was flown by its precursor 
        Varney Speed Lines on a 530-mile route from Pueblo, Colorado to El Paso, 
        Texas with stops in Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Whereas during World War II, Continental Airlines built the Denver Modification 
        Center where it modified B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-29 Super 
        Fortresses for the United States war effort;
Whereas during the Vietnam War, Continental transported United States troops 
        across the Pacific and as a result of this experience, in 1968 
        Continental formed Air Micronesia--the first step towards global 
        airlines;
Whereas in 1999, Continental named the first woman in the Nation to head a major 
        commercial airline pilot group;
Whereas, on October 11, 2000, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines 
        launched the world's largest interline eTicket network;
Whereas in 2001, Continental Airlines was again named ``Airline of the Year'' by 
        the aviation industry's monthly trade publication, Air Transport World. 
        As recipient of the same honor in 1996, Continental became the first 
        airline to receive the coveted ``Airline of the Year'' distinction twice 
        in five years;
Whereas following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Continental 
        offered special compassion fares to and from the New York area to assist 
        family members of the 9/11 victims, relief organizations and volunteers;
Whereas, on April 26, 2002, Continental was recognized for offering the best 
        Elite Level Program, OnePass, of any United States airline, according to 
        Inside Flyer's 14th Annual Freddie Awards Competition;
Whereas, on September 29, 2003, Continental became the first airline to offer 
        three of the most popular business applications, two-way e-mail, instant 
        messaging and text messaging, on its fleet of 737, 757, and MD 80 
        aircraft;
Whereas, on February 7, 2005, Continental was named for the eighth consecutive 
        year to HISPANIC Magazine's ``Hispanic Corporate 100: One Hundred 
        Companies Providing the Most Opportunities for Hispanics'';
Whereas, on April 28, 2005, Continental received honors for companywide 
        excellence in Aviation Maintenance Training from the Federal Aviation 
        Administration. Continental earned the FAA Diamond Certificate of 
        Excellence for Aviation Maintenance Training, the highest award offered 
        as part of the organization's Aviation Maintenance Technician Award 
        Program;
Whereas, on June 29, 2006, Continental ranked the highest in Customer 
        Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers in North America in the 
        J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Study marking 
        Continental's sixth customer satisfaction award by J.D. Power and 
        Associates since 1996;
Whereas for the 10th consecutive year, Continental outranked all of its United 
        States competitors in international business class and domestic first 
        class service, according to the results of a survey of Conde Nast 
        Traveler readers published in the magazine's October 2007 edition;
Whereas in 2007, Continental Airlines teamed with the Transportation Security 
        Administration to be the first United States carrier to launch a 
        paperless boarding pass pilot program that allows passengers to receive 
        boarding passes electronically on their cell phones or PDAs;
Whereas in April 2008, Continental Airlines received an award from the United 
        States Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment 
        Program in recognition of the airline's use of an environmentally 
        friendly, nonchromium surface pretreatment for its aircraft. Continental 
        was the first commercial air carrier to use this technology on its 
        aircraft;
Whereas for the fifth consecutive year, Continental was named the ``Best Airline 
        in North America'' at the 2008 OAG Airline of the Year Awards;
Whereas for the sixth consecutive year, Continental was rated the top airline on 
        FORTUNE magazine's annual airline industry list of World's Most Admired 
        Companies in March 2009; and
Whereas Continental Airlines currently services five continents with more than 
        2750 daily flights and more than 260 destinations today, employing more 
        than 43,000 men and women: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of operations by Continental 
        Airlines; and
            (2) congratulates the employees of Continental Airlines for the 
        numerous awards and accolades they have earned for the company over the 
        years.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.