[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 158 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL 
                                AIRPORT

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 326, which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the title of the 
resolution.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 326) recognizing the 40th anniversary 
     of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, 
     Texas.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 326) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 326

       Whereas the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in the 
     City of Houston, Texas (referred to in this resolution as 
     ``IAH''), was first opened for operation on June 8, 1969;
       Whereas in 1997, IAH was named in honor of the Nation's 
     41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush, a longtime 
     resident of Houston who, as a member of the Houston 
     congressional delegation, was present at the 1969 opening of 
     the airport;
       Whereas IAH is the largest airport in Houston, serving over 
     43,000,000 passengers in 2008, is the 8th-largest airport in 
     the United States and the 16th-largest in the world for total 
     passengers served;
       Whereas more than 700,000,000 people have passed through 
     IAH's gates since its opening;
       Whereas IAH has grown to become a world-class international 
     gateway offering service to more than 109 domestic and 65 
     nonstop international destinations in over 32 countries;
       Whereas in 1990, the city of Houston named the IAH 
     international arrivals building, now the IAH Terminal D, in 
     honor of the distinguished Congressman for the 18th District 
     of Texas, George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland, a renowned 
     antipoverty activist who died tragically in 1989 while on a 
     humanitarian visit to Ethiopia;
       Whereas IAH operates the largest passenger international 
     arrivals facility in the Nation and was selected by the 
     Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security 
     as the first ``Model Port'' for its efficiency in welcoming 
     international passengers arriving in the United States;
       Whereas IAH is a regional and world leader in air cargo 
     processing, consolidation, and distribution;
       Whereas IAH is a critical component of the Houston economy, 
     supporting more than 151,000 jobs and contributing over 
     $24,000,000,000 in economic benefits to the Houston region; 
     and
       Whereas IAH serves 30 airlines and is the headquarters and 
     major hub for award-winning Continental Airlines, which is 
     celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, by the Senate, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the founding of the 
     George Bush Intercontinental Airport; and
       (2) congratulates officials of the George Bush 
     Intercontinental Airport, the Houston Airport System, and the 
     city of Houston, Texas, for the airport's record of excellent 
     service to the citizens of Houston and the national air 
     transportation system.

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