[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E386-E387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GERALD E. BAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker; I rise to congratulate Gerald E. Baker on 
his recent retirement from the Airline Pilots Association.
  Jerry Baker is a graduate of North Park College, now North Park 
University, located here in Chicago's Fifth Congressional District. He 
received an M.A.T. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from the 
National Law Center at George Washington University before embarking on 
a distinguished career spanning 35 years promoting the airline 
industry, its workers and their important interests before the U.S. 
Congress.
  From 1968 to 1976, Jerry served as the legislative representative for 
American Airlines, and has served as the legislative counsel for the 
Airline Pilots Association since 1976. During his 28-year tenure with 
ALPA, Jerry has been involved in virtually every piece of legislation 
that affects the professional interests of commercial airline pilots.
  From the deregulation of the airline industry in the 1970's, the 
turbulence of the 1980's, the relative prosperity of the 1990's, and 
the devastating events of September 11th, Jerry Baker has served the 
airline industry with competence and professionalism.
  Jerry also enjoys a solid reputation for developing personal 
relationships that he has fostered on both sides of the aisle. Leaders 
in both the House and Senate look to Jerry for his experience, 
diligence and his bipartisan approach toward advancing the interests of 
the airline industry.

[[Page E387]]

  Away from Capitol Hill and downtown Washington, one of Jerry's 
principal interests is The County Club of Woodmore in Mitchellville, 
Maryland, where he has served for the last four years as the president 
of their Board of Directors. Here's hoping that Jerry gets to spend 
even more time there with this family and many good friends in the 
coming years.
  I have tremendous respect for Jerry's knowledge of the industry, his 
integrity and his firm advocacy for airline workers and their families. 
He is a shining example of leadership and commitment to hard-working 
Americans and their values. I am grateful for our friendship and mutual 
support for a strong airline industry in the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with all of the airline pilots he represents and 
on behalf of the Illinois delegation in congratulating Jerry Baker on 
his retirement. I wish him, his wife Barbara and their three daughters 
all the happiness and continued success into the future. His presence 
will certainly be missed by all of us here in Congress.

                          ____________________