[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H11042-H11043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING THE AERO SQUAD AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AT TOMORROW'S
AERONAUTICAL MUSEUM IN COMPTON, CALIFORNIA, AND OTHER YOUTH AVIATION
PROGRAMS THAT EXPOSE YOUNG MINORITIES TO CIVIL AVIATION
Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further
consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 532)
commending the Aero Squad After School Program at Tomorrow's
Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, as well as other youth
aviation programs that expose young minorities to the field of civil
aviation, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
Mr. OBERSTAR. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, H. Con.
Res. 532 submitted by the chairman is a very commendable bill which
acknowledges the work of the Aero Squad After School Program at the
Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, that will give
young minority aviators experience in the field of civil aviation.
Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) for her comments on the bill,
as she has a response to the bill which our committee has reported out.
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his
support on this.
Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to bring to the Congress this
resolution congratulating the Aero Squad Program at Tomorrow's
Aeronautical Museum located in my district of Compton, California. It
is this program that provides young persons who want to learn how to
fly the opportunity to do just that.
Mr. Speaker, a young constituent of mine, Kenny Roy, as a part of his
school program, traveled to Canada. Upon entering Canada, Kenny passed
the written, medical, and flying portions of the pilot exam to become
the youngest African American pilot in the world. It is these types of
opportunities that are given to these young folks as well as women that
we applaud today.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that I was able to submit this and
that the Congress is supporting this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to bring before Congress a
resolution congratulating the Aero Squad Program at Tomorrow's
Aeronautical Museum, located at the Compton, California Airport in my
district, for providing new and innovative teaching programs that
expose young minorities and women to aeronautics.
On September 23, 2004, Mr. Speaker, a young constituent of mine,
Kenny Roy, as part of the after-school program, traveled to Canada.
Upon entering Canada, Kenny passed the written, medical, and flying
portions of the pilot exam to become the youngest African American
pilot in the world.
This opportunity was made available to Kenny through an innovative
after-school program in Compton, California. This program, located in
my district, combines two of my passions, after-school programs for our
Nation's youth and providing opportunities for minorities and women in
transportation.
This program, the Aero Squad after-school program, provides
opportunities for our children that would otherwise not have this
opportunity unless they enlisted in the armed services. This ``learn-
while-you-earn-program'' was created by Mr. Robin Petgrave, who is a
licensed pilot. Mr. Petgrave dedicates his time and resources as a
commercial pilot so that these children are exposed to civil aviation
at its finest.
As a former school teacher and administrator, I am well aware that
innovative approaches to teaching our children are few and far between.
It is programs like these that embolden the youth of America to reach
for the skies.
These children in Compton are able to earn ``credits'' by performing
community service. Credits can then be traded in toward flight lessons.
It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we can continue to provide these
opportunities that encourage young minorities and women to consider
careers in transportation. I am inspired by the creativity and
innovation that the Aero Squad Program embodies. I look forward in the
109th Congress to help support programs such as this, which combine
innovative teaching approaches with cutting-edge opportunities.
I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the House unanimously pass this measure.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I
yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of
the subcommittee.
[[Page H11043]]
Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from California.
Education, guidance and opportunity are key ingredients to success, and
I commend the gentlewoman for her initiative on this motion. I urge all
of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I
would simply note that the air patrol in Minnesota has a similar
program, we call it the Young Eagles, to bring young people into
participation in aviation at an early age. It is beneficial to all of
aviation.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:
H. Con. Res. 532
Whereas youth participants perform community service in
exchange for flight lessons and instruction courses offered
through the Aero Squad After School Program at Tomorrow's
Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California;
Whereas the Aero Squad After School Program, founded by
Robin Petgrave, provides a haven for young people to work and
develop workplace ethics while taking seminars that focus on
mathematics, airplane maintenance, and motor maintenance:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) commends the Aero Squad After School Program at
Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, as
well as other youth aviation programs that expose young
minorities to the field of civil aviation through
engineering, science, and mathematics enrichment courses;
(2) commends civil aviation enrichment programs that
encourage minorities and underrepresented groups to enter the
field of civil aviation; and
(3) congratulates the graduates of the Aero Squad After
School Program at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton,
California, who have obtained pilot licenses, including Kenny
Roy, who obtained his student pilot license in Canada.
The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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