[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              GENERAL AVIATION REVITALIZATION ACT OF 1994

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                               speech of

                          HON. JAMES M. INHOFE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 1994

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. Speaker, I have been anticipating this day since 1987 
when I was first elected to Congress. As a naive freshman, I believed 
that once Members understood how uncontrolled product liability claims 
were killing the general aviation industry, they would support efforts 
to reform it. So I diligently worked at getting the message out but was 
frustrated that the bill did not get anywhere even though it enjoyed 
broad support. I have since learned what happened, the American Trial 
Lawyers Association did not want to reform product liability for 
general aviation because it would mean less dollars for them--in short, 
nothing happened.
  Today the full House will finally get a chance to vote on reforming a 
liability structure that has systematically destroyed the general 
aviation industry in this country. Passage of S. 1458 means general 
aviation manufacturing will return and Americans will have an 
opportunity to once again be employed in high paying aviation jobs. S. 
1458 is not just an aviation bill, it is the most significant jobs bill 
the 103d Congress will consider. Russ Meyer, of Cessna Aircraft, has 
stated publicly that if product liability reform for general aviation 
is passed, Cessna will build 2,000 aircraft a year. It is estimated by 
the General Aviation Manufacturing Association that this bill could 
mean 25,000 new jobs in the next decade. S. 1458 is a major victory for 
aviation and for jobs in America.
  S. 1458 is also a victory for those who have been supporting process 
reform. S. 1458 is on the floor today because the threat of 
successfully discharging it from the Judiciary Committee, where it has 
languished for 9 years, convinced the chairman of the committee to 
finally work with us to craft a sensible and reasonable bill.
  I applaud all by colleagues who have worked on making S. 1458 a 
reality: Mr. Glickman, Mr. Hansen, Chairmen Mineta and Oberstar, Mr. 
Shuster and Mr. Clinger. All of these Members have been supporters of 
general aviation from the get-go, and have been tireless in their 
efforts to persuade our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to work 
with us to reach this compromise.
  I hope that our colleagues in the other body will quickly consider 
this compromise proposal. I want to be able to go home and let my 
constituents know that after 9 years Congress has finally acted on 
their request to allow general aviation manufacturing to once again be 
an American industry.

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