[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 96 (Tuesday, June 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     HONORING PHILIP BILGRAY, RAMP SERVICEMAN AT WASHINGTON DULLES 
                         INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

                                 ______


                        HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 1995
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
the following story published in Hemispheres about Philip Bilgray, a 
United Airlines employee. Mr. Bilgray is the first hearing-impaired 
employee to work on the ramp at Washington Dulles International 
Airport. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bilgray and can tell 
you that he is a very special individual. He is proud of the work he 
does and of the fact that he has helped other employees learn sign 
language so that they can communicate better in situations where oral 
communication is impossible. As a frequent traveler, I feel good 
knowing that Philip Bilgray is working to keep everything running 
smoothly.
                             United Voices

                          (By Philip Bilgray)

       My name is Philip Bilgray, and I am a Ramp Serviceman. You 
     could say that I broke new ground as the first hearing-
     impaired employee on the ramp at Washington Dulles 
     International Airport, where I've worked since 1986.
       Some people may think it's difficult for me to do my job 
     because I interact a lot with other employees and customers. 
     But my disability doesn't get in the way of my work. Much of 
     the time, aircraft noise on the ramp makes it very difficult 
     for anyone to hear, and ramp employees often use hand signals 
     to communicate as they work. In fact, I've expanded that 
     practice by teaching my co-workers some simple sign language, 
     and now we can communicate even better without speaking.
       Also, driving a tug in the ramp area isn't much different 
     for me than driving a car. In both cases, I take special 
     precautions to make sure that I see nearby vehicles because I 
     can't hear them approaching. With aircraft and other vehicles 
     everywhere, making the extra effort to constantly look around 
     ensures that I'm upholding our corporate value: Safety is all 
     times, in all things.
       As a United employee, I am proud to take care of your 
     luggage whether you're traveling for business or pleasure. I 
     try to help you if you have luggage problems. When delays 
     occur, each of us knows that being a team is more important 
     than ever, and by working together, we can minimize the 
     impact of a delayed or cancelled flight.
       Although I've taken my career at United seriously and I've 
     worked hard, my parents get the credit for my successful 
     entry into the workplace. They encouraged me to speak and 
     sent me to a special private school for the speech impaired 
     to make sure I could communicate with other people, like my 
     co-worker, supervisors, and manager. My parents gave me the 
     confidence to go for what I wanted, and what I've always 
     wanted is to work for the best airline in the world. And the 
     really great thing is, I don't just work at United anymore, 
     I'm one of the owners!
       I've found that sometimes the best way to learn about a job 
     you're interested in is to take a straightforward approach. 
     Although I'm very open about my deafness, I know some people 
     don't like the word ``handi-capped,'' so I say that people 
     like me who are deaf or hard of hearing are exceptional 
     people, who can do anything if they put their mind to it.
       There are many examples of hearing-impaired people 
     achieving a lot of success. Many people saw the Miss America 
     Pageant on TV this past year and witnessed the crowning of 
     the first hearing-impaired winner. Also, millions of people 
     have seen Marleee Matlin, a deaf actress, in Children of a 
     Lesser God and on television.
       Those are only two examples. I truly believe that it makes 
     no difference whether a person is deaf or hard of hearing. 
     There are many fine people who work for airlines or as 
     lawyers, doctors, dentists, etc. And, happily, there also are 
     many hearing people throughout the world who either know sign 
     language or would like to learn it. If you are one of them, I 
     would encourage you to learn sign language--it can open up a 
     whole new world for you!
       Note: Philip Bilgray has received commendations for 
     administering first aid to a passenger on a United flight and 
     for participating in Dulles' annual Christmas Fantasy Flight 
     for critically ill children.
     

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