[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 623--RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE THE CIVIL AIR PATROL 
HAS PLAYED, AND CONTINUES TO PLAY, IN SUPPORTING THE HOMELAND SECURITY 
               AND NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES

  Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mr. Tester, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Mr. Kirk, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. 
Boxer, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Coons, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Peters, Mr. Lankford, Mr. 
Nelson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Carper, Ms. Ayotte, 
Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Udall, Mr. Blunt, 
Mr. Casey, Mrs. Capito, Mr. King, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Markey, Mr. Bennet, 
Mr. Franken, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Perdue) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 623

       Whereas, on December 1, 1941, a new civilian defense 
     organization known as the Civil Air Patrol was founded, which 
     was to rely on volunteer civilian aviators who would fly in 
     support of the homeland security of the United States;
       Whereas with the attack on Pearl Harbor 6 days later and 
     the entry of the United States into World War II, the Civil 
     Air Patrol would find itself serving the United States in 
     ways that were not imagined at the time of the conception of 
     the Civil Air Patrol;
       Whereas the Civil Air Patrol initially engaged in coastal 
     patrol operations that were considered critical to the United 
     States war effort, piloting aircraft that in total flew 
     24,000,000 miles over 18 months, reporting 173 possible enemy 
     submarines, and dropping 82 bombs or depth charges;
       Whereas Civil Air Patrol civilian volunteers flew privately 
     owned light aircraft armed with military bombs at the expense 
     of the volunteers, often at low altitude, in bad weather, and 
     up to 60 miles from shore;
       Whereas Civil Air Patrol civilian volunteers undertook 
     other vital World War II missions nationwide, which included 
     border patrols, search and rescue operations, courier and 
     cargo services, and air defense and pilot training;
       Whereas, unlike many organizations at the time, the Civil 
     Air Patrol welcomed women into its ranks to fly for the Civil 
     Air Patrol, with approximately one-half of the women later 
     joining the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (commonly known 
     as ``WASP'') after having first flown with the Civil Air 
     Patrol;
       Whereas the Civil Air Patrol was open to all pilots 
     interested in flying for the Civil Air Patrol, which allowed 
     African-Americans an opportunity to serve and fly for the 
     United States well before the adoption of the integrated 
     Armed Forces;
       Whereas, in 2016, the Civil Air Patrol continues its 
     critical mission in service to the United States, now as a 
     vital partner for the Air Force, serving as the auxiliary 
     force, and, since 2015, as an official component of the total 
     force;
       Whereas the Civil Air Patrol remains one of the premier 
     inland search and rescue organizations of the United States, 
     and was credited with saving the lives of 69 individuals 
     through search and rescue operations in 2015;
       Whereas the Civil Air Patrol continues to fulfill many 
     other vital missions, including helping train interceptor 
     pilots and unmanned aerial vehicle operators under realistic 
     conditions, aerial observation missions, counterdrug 
     operations, disaster relief support, live organ transport, 
     aerospace education, cadet programs, and Reserve Officer 
     Training Corps orientation flights;
       Whereas the continued work of the all-volunteer force of 
     the Civil Air Patrol offers vital support to homeland 
     security and defense missions; and
       Whereas the weekly youth and aerospace education programs 
     of the Civil Air Patrol continue to introduce young students 
     to the field of aviation and instill within the students the 
     values of national service and personal responsibility: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) applauds the Civil Air Patrol for 75 years of 
     continuous service in times of peace and war;
       (2) recognizes the critical emergency services, training 
     support, and mission capabilities that the Civil Air Patrol 
     offers State and national homeland security agencies as well 
     as the United States Armed Forces; and
       (3) commends the more than 23,500 youth and 32,500 adult 
     volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol, who hail from a range of 
     professions and across the United States, and dedicate their 
     time to the service of their communities and the United 
     States.

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