[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 132--RECOGNIZING THE CIVIL AIR PATROL FOR 65 YEARS OF 
                      SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Crapo, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Collins, Mr. Warner, 
and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 132

       Whereas the Civil Air Patrol was established on December 1, 
     1941, in the Office of Civilian Defense;
       Whereas during World War II the volunteer units of the 
     Civil Air Patrol conducted search and rescue missions, 
     provided air transportation for military personnel and cargo, 
     towed targets for the training of Army Air Corps gunners, and 
     patrolled the coasts of the United States searching for enemy 
     submarines;
       Whereas by the end of World War II the Civil Air Patrol had 
     flown more than 500,000 hours, sunk 2 German U-boats, and 
     saved hundreds of crash victims;
       Whereas on July 1, 1946, the Civil Air Patrol was chartered 
     by the United States as a nonprofit, benevolent corporation;
       Whereas on May 26, 1948, the Civil Air Patrol was 
     permanently established as a volunteer auxiliary of the 
     United States Air Force;
       Whereas since 1942 the cadet programs of the Civil Air 
     Patrol have trained more than 750,000 youth, providing them 
     with leadership and life skills;
       Whereas since 1942 the Civil Air Patrol has flown more than 
     1,000,000 hours of search and rescue missions, saving several 
     thousand lives; and
       Whereas since 1951 the aerospace education programs of the 
     Civil Air Patrol have provided training and educational 
     materials to more than 300,000 teachers, who have educated 
     more than 8,000,000 students about aerospace: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the Civil Air Patrol 
     for 65 years of service to the United States.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, last December, the Civil Air Patrol 
completed its 65th year of distinguished service to our Nation. I've 
come to the floor today to pay tribute to the brave men and women who 
helped this important organization reach this milestone.
  In the late 1930s, Gill Robb Wilson, General Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, 
and other American aviation leaders recognized the need for a civilian 
group which could complement air operations undertaken by our military. 
Their vision led to the establishment of the Civil Air Patrol on 
December 1, 1941.
  Less than a week later, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United 
States was drawn into World War II. The newly formed Civil Air Patrol 
played a vital role in keeping America safe during this dark period in 
our history. CAP members kept watch for enemy submarines, assisted the 
Army Air Corps with training exercises, and helped transport military 
personnel and cargo. They rescued hundreds of crash survivors and 
helped force the Nazis to withdraw U-boat operations from our East 
Coast. In total, thousands of CAP volunteers flew more than 500,000 
hours and 24 million miles during the war.
  The tremendous accomplishments and potential of this organization did 
not go unnoticed. After World War II, President Truman signed a law 
designating the Civil Air Patrol as a nonprofit, benevolent corporation 
and an ``instrumentality of the United States.'' Two years later, 
Congress passed legislation establishing CAP as a volunteer auxiliary 
of the United States Air Force.
  Today, the three principal missions of the Civil Air Patrol are to 
administer cadet training programs, provide aerospace education, and 
perform operations related to homeland security and emergency services. 
This organization has exceeded all expectations in each of these areas.
  Approximately 750,000 American children have learned important life 
and leadership lessons from CAP's cadet programs. More than 300,000 
teachers--and some eight million students--have received training and 
instructional materials through CAP's aerospace education program. CAP 
volunteers have now flown more than one million hours of search and 
rescue operations, and thousands of lives have been saved as a result. 
As an Alaskan, I am particularly appreciative of these efforts--since 
2004, the Civil Air Patrol has saved at least 57 lives in our State. 
And, I served as a Legal Officer for the Civil Air Patrol in Fairbanks, 
AK, in the 1950s.
  Today, the Civil Air Patrol is a nationwide organization of nearly 
57,000 volunteers. CAP wings can be found in all 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The organization's members--all 
volunteers--fly approximately 120,000 hours each year as they assist 
with border patrol, terrorism preparedness, the War on Drugs, and 
natural disaster responses.
  The Civil Air Patrol also submits an annual report to Congress. In 
2005, this report was titled ``Everyday Heroes . . . The Faces of the 
Civil Air Patrol.'' In part, the word ``hero'' is defined as ``a person 
noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who 
has risked or sacrificed his or her life.''
  Mr. President, I can think of no title more fitting for the members 
of the Civil Air Patrol. The men and women of this organization have 
volunteered their time and resources in the service of others for the 
past 65 years. Each is truly an ``everyday hero'' and worthy of our 
Nation's deepest gratitude.
  In honor of the Civil Air Patrol's 65th anniversary, Senators Inouye, 
Domenici, Crapo, Murkowski, Wyden, Sanders, Snowe, Collins, Warner, 
Inhofe, and I have introduced S. Res. XX. I encourage each Member of 
the Senate to support this resolution.

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