[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7829-H7830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION ON ITS 70TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1669) congratulating the National Air 
Transportation Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1669

       Whereas the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) 
     was founded 70 years ago on December 28, 1940, with 83 
     charter member companies who were instrumental in supporting 
     the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP);
       Whereas on December 27, 1938, the CPTP was formed by 
     President Franklin D. Roosevelt who approved a Civil 
     Aeronautics Authority plan to boost the private flying 
     industry by annually teaching 20,000 college students to fly;
       Whereas the CPTP trained thousands of new pilots;
       Whereas in 1940, NATA was instrumental in working with 
     Congress to support the CPTP;
       Whereas the current general aviation industry owes much to 
     the foresight and resiliency of the founders of NATA, William 
     A. Ong and Leslie H. Bowman, the association's first two 
     presidents, as well as George E. Haddaway, John L. Gaylord, 
     and others who played a strong role in the organization's 
     formation;
       Whereas the general aviation industry accounts for hundreds 
     of thousands of American jobs and contributes approximately 
     $90 billion to the United States economy;
       Whereas today NATA represents over 2,000 member companies 
     that own, operate, or service aircraft and provide for the 
     needs of the traveling public by offering services and 
     products to aircraft operators and others such as fuel sales, 
     aircraft maintenance, parts sales, storage, rental airline 
     servicing, flight training, Part 135 on-demand air charter, 
     fractional aircraft program management, and scheduled 
     commuter operations for smaller aircraft;
       Whereas NATA continues to represent the legislative, 
     regulatory, and business interests of general aviation 
     businesses;
       Whereas NATA provides education, services, and benefits to 
     its members to ensure their long-term economic success;
       Whereas NATA is dedicated to establishing programs to 
     improve general aviation safety; and
       Whereas NATA established the Air Charter Safety Foundation 
     to continuously enhance the safety and security practices of 
     charter and shared aircraft owners and operators in the 
     United States and worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the National Air Transportation 
     Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary;
       (2) applauds the National Air Transportation Association 
     for creating programs and resources to enhance the safety of 
     general aviation operators; and
       (3) commends the National Air Transportation Association 
     for being instrumental in bolstering the general aviation 
     industry during a time of turmoil in the 1940s.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARNAHAN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 1669.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1669, as amended, which 
congratulates the National Air Transportation Association for 
celebrating its 70th anniversary.
  As this resolution recognizes, NATA played an indispensable role in 
the development of general aviation in the United States. Since its 
founding in 1940, at a time when general aviation in the U.S. was at a 
crossroads, NATA has grown to represent more than 2,000 companies that 
own, operate, or service aircraft and provide services to general 
aviation pilots and aircraft owners. NATA serves as these companies' 
advocate before Federal policymakers and lawmakers.
  The general aviation industry supports thousands of American jobs and 
is an essential contributor to the U.S. economy. Since its founding, 
the National Air Transportation Association has played a major role in 
advocating for a vibrant and healthy general aviation industry.
  H. Res. 1669 recognizes NATA's historical contributions to general 
aviation and congratulates them for its 70th anniversary. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
author of the resolution before us, my colleague from Tennessee, James 
Duncan.

                              {time}  1710

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for 
yielding.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1669, to congratulate and 
compliment the National Air Transportation Association on its 70th 
anniversary, and for its advocacy of general aviation in the United 
States of America. NATA is the leading organization representing 
aviation service businesses such as fixed base operators, charter 
providers, and aircraft management companies.
  At the start of World War II, the Federal Government drafted plans to 
ground all private aviation for the duration of the war. Such a ban 
would have crippled general aviation in this country for years to come. 
However, 83 founding members started the NATA in 1940 with the purpose 
of showing how private aviation could be an asset to our country and to 
its national security, and certainly not a threat. In fact, the NATA 
helped save the Civilian Pilot Training Program that was created by 
President Franklin Roosevelt just a few years earlier. This program 
trained thousands of college students to fly, many of whom later 
contributed to the war effort.
  Today, NATA represents over 2,000 member companies that own, operate, 
or service aircraft, and provide for the needs of the traveling public 
by offering services and products to aircraft operators and others such 
as fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, parts sales, storage, rental 
airline services, flight training, Part 135 on demand air charters, 
fractional aircraft program management, and scheduled commuter 
operations from smaller aircraft.
  There are more than 230,000 general aviation aircraft in the United 
States, which use nearly 19,000 small and regional airports. These 
airports help connect people and industries that do not always have 
easy access to our larger commercial airports. In addition, the general 
aviation industry represents millions of jobs, and contributes $150 
billion to the U.S. economy. General aviation is a vital component of 
the transportation industry in the United States.
  Not only does the association represent aviation interests in 
Washington, it takes an active role in promoting aviation in our 
communities. NATA provides grants to schools for the purpose of 
purchasing educational materials. The NATA also provides scholarships 
to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation.
  Madam Speaker, I served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation 
for 6 years. I personally witnessed the National Air Transportation 
Association's tireless efforts on behalf of private aviation.
  Finally, I would like to mention that the president of this 
association is our former colleague, former Congressman Jim Coyne. 
While in Congress, Congressman Coyne regularly flew to and from his 
congressional district in Pennsylvania. He has served in this position 
since 1994. And I would like to

[[Page H7830]]

say that the members of the NATA are very fortunate to have someone 
with his knowledge of the aviation community to lead their association.
  I introduced this resolution to recognize this association and its 
contributions to private aviation. I hope my colleagues will join me in 
support of this bill.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before 
us sponsored by my colleague from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), 
congratulating the National Air Transportation Association for 
celebrating the organization's 70th anniversary. The resolution also 
applauds the association's efforts over the years to improve general 
aviation safety and bolster the general aviation industry.
  NATA represents over 2,000 member companies that provide millions of 
jobs in the United States that support the general aviation industry. 
NATA member companies provide for many of the behind the scenes support 
for general aviation, including fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, parts 
sales, storage, and flight training, just to name a few. These sectors 
of the general aviation industry support jobs for millions of Americans 
and contribute $150 billion to the United States economy.
  NATA played a big role in the resurgence of aviation after World War 
II and continues to play an important advocacy role for its member 
companies. Most importantly, the association plays an active role in 
improving safety for its member companies and the traveling public.
  I support the resolution, and urge my colleagues to adopt the 
resolution.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1669, as 
amended, which congratulates the National Air Transportation 
Association (NATA) for celebrating its 70th anniversary. NATA was 
founded on December 28, 1940, at a critical moment in the development 
of general aviation in the United States. At its founding, NATA 
represented 83 aerospace companies whose leaders unified to represent 
the interests of general aviation before Congress.
  Today, NATA represents more than 2,000 member companies that own, 
operate, or service aircraft and provide for the needs of the traveling 
public by offering services and products to aircraft operators and 
others. General aviation stimulates local and regional economies and 
supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.
  H. Res. 1669 recognizes NATA's historical contributions to general 
aviation and congratulates NATA for celebrating its 70th anniversary. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. PETRI. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and his service on the Aviation Subcommittee. I 
appreciate working with him, and for him bringing this to the floor. I 
have no further requests for time, I would just encourage the body to 
adopt this resolution, and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1669, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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