[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3338-H3339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING AVIATION CONTRIBUTIONS IN HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the
concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 61) expressing the sense of the
Congress that general aviation pilots and industry should be recognized
for the contributions made in response to Haiti earthquake relief
efforts.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
S. Con. Res. 61
Whereas on January 12, 2010, the country of Haiti suffered
a devastating earthquake;
Whereas after the earthquake, general aviation pilots
rallied to provide transportation for medical staff and
relief personnel;
Whereas more than 4,500 relief flights were made by general
aviators in the first 30 days after the earthquake;
Whereas business aircraft alone conducted more than 700
flights, transporting 3,500 passengers, and over 1,000,000
pounds of cargo and supplies;
Whereas relief flights were fully paid for by individual
pilots and aircraft owners;
Whereas smaller general aviation aircraft were able to
deliver supplies and medical personnel to areas outside Port-
Au-Prince which larger aircraft could not serve; and
Whereas the selfless efforts of the general aviation
community have saved countless lives and provided
humanitarian assistance in a time of need: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That the United States Congress--
(1) recognizes the many contributions of the general
aviation pilots and industry to the Haiti earthquake relief
efforts; and
(2) encourages the continued generosity of general aviation
pilots and operators in the ongoing humanitarian relief
efforts in Haiti.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and add
extraneous material as necessary on S. Con. Res. 61.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 61, a
resolution which recognizes the many contributions of private pilots
and the general aviation industry to the Haiti earthquake relief
efforts and encourages the continued generosity of general aviation
pilots and operators in ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.
On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, leaving
up to 300,000 dead and 300,000 injured. Private pilots and businesses
banded together to conduct an estimated 4,500 relief flights during the
30-day period following the earthquake. Business aircraft transported
approximately 3,500 passengers and delivered over 1 million pounds of
cargo and supplies to the Haitian people.
General aviation aircraft were vital for getting help to smaller
communities that otherwise faced great difficulty in receiving aid.
Media accounts described pilots ferrying supplies between nearby
countries, like the Dominican Republic, to small towns in Haiti. They
would often land on not much more than dirt roads. General aviation
aircraft transported
[[Page H3339]]
critical supplies like food, blankets, medication, and medical
equipment as well. The fuel from these aircraft was even used in some
cases to help generators continue running. The aircraft carried medical
staff and relief personnel from the United States to Haiti to assist in
relief efforts, including a group that came from my hometown of
Memphis, from LeBonheur Children's Hospital. They spent quite a bit of
time down there.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. Con. Res. 61.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate Concurrent Resolution
61, a resolution recognizing general aviation pilots and the general
aviation industry for their contributions in response to the Haiti
earthquake relief efforts. As we all know, on January 12, 2010, the
country of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. Immediately after
the earthquake, general aviation pilots began providing transportation
for medical staff and relief personnel. More than 4,500 flights were
made by general aviators in the first 30 days, and business aircraft
alone conducted more than 700 flights, transporting 3,500 passengers
and over 1 million pounds of cargo--fully paid for by individual pilots
and aircraft owners.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts
of the Corporate Aviation Responding in Emergencies organization,
called CARE, one of the largest contributors to Haiti response efforts.
CARE is a group of volunteers from the business aviation community that
coordinate relief flights in response to disasters. It was formed in
response to Hurricane Katrina, and participants flew about 175 missions
and moved approximately 1,000 people and 250,000 pounds of supplies.
The earthquake in Haiti produced another situation that was the
fundamental case for business and general aviation. It needed quick
reaction, decentralized response, and efficiency. Business and general
aviation was the only response entity that could do all three. CARE
Operation Haiti has included more than 750 flights with 4,000
passengers, and over a million pounds of critical medical supplies.
CARE passengers have included medical personnel, relief workers, newly
adopted children, injured patients, and missionaries. Over 100 aircraft
have been activated for the program, flying more than $5 million worth
of flight hours.
{time} 1200
Again, I would like to recognize the contributions of CARE and all
those who took part in relief efforts in Haiti. I also would like to
extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and families who have been
impacted by this devastating disaster.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I said much of what I
could say on this particular resolution when I discussed the previous
one, and noted that it is important to recognize that general aviation
is very, very important to our Nation. It serves so many people so
well. I will not bother to repeat all the points I made earlier, but I
simply want to say that I think this is an excellent resolution, and I
hope that everyone in this Chamber will vote for it and that it will go
into effect.
Mr. COHEN. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I
urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, before we close, I want to take an
opportunity, because I don't know if I will have the opportunity on the
floor to do it. Mr. Ehlers is retiring during this Congress. When I was
a freshman in 2006, he was the head of the Committee on House
Administration that helped welcome all the freshmen and get us oriented
to Congress, and he was one of the first influences on my experience in
Congress. It was an excellent one. You are a gentleman. It's been an
honor serving with you, and I thank you for your contributions to the
Class of 2006. I wish you Godspeed.
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Concurrent
Resolution 61, Expressing the sense of the Congress that general
aviation pilots and industry should be recognized for the contributions
made in response to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.
On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced a disastrous earthquake that
overwhelmed its disaster relief capabilities. The world responded.
In addition to relief offered by governments from around the world,
individual general aviation pilots did what they could to support the
relief effort.
To help meet the desperate need for supplies to help those displaced
by the earthquake, general aviation pilots made over 4,500 relief
flights within the first thirty days after the disaster.
Some 3,500 passengers and 1 million pounds of cargo were transported
by large general aviation aircraft, and general aviation pilots in
smaller aircraft were able to serve areas that larger aircraft could
not access, delivering critical medical personnel and supplies.
This concurrent resolution recognizes the magnanimous efforts of the
general aviation community in the response to this terrible disaster.
The extraordinary efforts of these general aviation pilots and the
general aviation community saved countless lives and helped to ease the
suffering of those in need.
The Senate adopted this resolution by unanimous consent on April 29,
2010. On this, the 4-month anniversary of the earthquake, I urge my
colleagues to adopt this resolution recognizing the efforts of those
who came to the aid of the people of Haiti.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution, S. Con. Res. 61, which recognizes the many contributions of
the private pilots and the general aviation industry to the Haiti
earthquake relief efforts and encourages the continued generosity of
general aviation pilots and operators in ongoing humanitarian relief
efforts in Haiti.
On January 12, 2010, the Republic of Haiti experienced a devastating
earthquake, leaving up to an estimated 300,000 dead and 300,000
injured. It is also estimated that more than 4,500 relief flights were
conducted by general aviation aircraft during the 30-day period
following the earthquake. Business aircraft transported approximately
3,500 passengers and delivered more than one million pounds of cargo
and supplies to the Haitian people. All of this was accomplished
through the generosity of individual pilots and aircraft owners.
General aviation aircraft were vital for getting help to smaller
communities that were impacted in the Haitian countryside. Light planes
landed on shorter airstrips and distributed urgently-needed supplies to
medical professionals and people on the ground, bypassing the congested
Port-au-Prince airport.
General aviation aircraft and pilots assisted in delivering supplies,
including water purification kits, tarps, medical supplies, blankets,
and towels. Medical staff and relief personnel were also transported on
these aircraft from the United States to Haiti to conduct relief work.
Companies, business aviation and private pilots, nongovernmental relief
organizations, aviation groups, and others banded together in the
earthquake's aftermath to assist in the Haiti relief effort.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. Con. Res. 61.
Mr. COHEN. I would like to ask that all of our Members join in
supporting S. Con. Res. 61. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. McCollum). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House
suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res.
61.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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