[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 566 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 566

      Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2021

 Ms. Tenney (for herself and Mr. Thompson of California) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol.

Whereas the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was founded on December 1, 1941, to 
        supplement civilian defense organizations and the United States military 
        during World War II;
Whereas, in 1946, Congress incorporated CAP as a nonprofit, volunteer civilian 
        organization to encourage and aid American citizens in the development 
        of aviation and maintenance of air supremacy, foster volunteerism among 
        private citizens to the public welfare, and provide aviation education 
        and training to adult and youth members;
Whereas, in 1948, CAP was designated as the civilian auxiliary of the United 
        States Air Force, tasked by the Secretary of the Air Force to fulfill 
        noncombatant missions on behalf of the service, including humanitarian 
        and search and rescue missions;
Whereas, since CAP's beginning, the organization has responded in the country's 
        times of need by deterring enemy submarines during World War II, 
        supporting Air Force Cold War operations by training to track enemy 
        aircraft and conduct aerial radiological monitoring, conducting 
        counterdrug reconnaissance starting in the 1980s, and assisting 
        government agencies immediately following the September 11, 2001, 
        terrorist attacks;
Whereas, for all 80 years, CAP has conducted aerial and ground search, rescue, 
        and disaster operations for the Federal Government, States, and 
        communities including thousands of aircraft and missing person searches, 
        and among thousands of other national missions, Hurricanes Katrina and 
        Sandy, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas CAP supports States and local governments through working with State 
        agencies and others such as the Coast Guard, National Guard, Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, and community first 
        responders with thousands of valuable trained personnel and assets such 
        as 560 aircraft, over a thousand vehicles, high-tech equipment such as 
        advanced aircraft cameras and camera-equipped small unmanned aerial 
        vehicles, and communications networks in every State with over 10,000 
        radios during times of disasters and other emergencies;
Whereas CAP provides exceptional educational and growth opportunities and 
        experiences for youth through its nearly 22,000-member-strong cadet 
        program, including weekly training and activities in thousands of 
        communities, character and leadership training, aerospace education, 
        State encampments, emergency services training and opportunities, cyber 
        defense competitions, and various flight orientations and training 
        including powered, glider, and unmanned aerial vehicle solo and pilot 
        license training as well as through more than 30 special national 
        programs emphasizing careers and experiences in aviation and space;
Whereas CAP supports tens of thousands of teachers, students, and schools 
        throughout the Nation with special teacher support and programs, teacher 
        orientation flights, special school programs, science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics kits for classrooms, and textbooks and 
        curricula for aerospace education;
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, CAP continues to provide vital noncombatant 
        homeland security and defense missions that help ensure the protection 
        of the Nation by assisting the Air Force and other key agencies with 
        critical support and training such as providing slow-mover targets for 
        air-intercept training;
Whereas, in 2015, CAP officially became a member of the Air Force's Total Force, 
        joining Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and civilians as airmen 
        when conducting missions for the United States Air Force;
Whereas CAP responded with a national mobilization effort during the COVID-19 
        pandemic providing air and ground team support to States and local 
        communities regarding food deliveries, COVID test site support, and test 
        kit deliveries and vaccine deliveries, among other missions, making this 
        the largest mobilization of CAP manpower and assets since World War II--
        over 46,500 volunteer man days to date: and
Whereas every day CAP offers America an all-volunteer force of professionally 
        trained citizens who for eight decades have supported the Nation 
        selflessly and tirelessly to support, protect, and defend their 
        communities, support them in times of disaster and emergencies, and to 
        train youth as future leaders and responsible members of their 
        communities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) hereby commends the Civil Air Patrol for its ``80 years 
        of Missions for America'' and its outstanding disaster relief, 
        emergency response, Air Force-tasked missions, and cadet and 
        aerospace programs, which every day touch the lives of millions 
        of American citizens; and
            (2) recognizes the 80th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol 
        and the organization's commendable contributions to the Nation.
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