[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 25721-25722]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING THE AERO SQUAD AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AT TOMORROW'S 
 AERONAUTICAL MUSEUM IN COMPTON, CALIFORNIA, AND OTHER YOUTH AVIATION 
        PROGRAMS THAT EXPOSE YOUNG MINORITIES TO CIVIL AVIATION

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further 
consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 532) 
commending the Aero Squad After School Program at Tomorrow's 
Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, as well as other youth 
aviation programs that expose young minorities to the field of civil 
aviation, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, H. Con. 
Res. 532 submitted by the chairman is a very commendable bill which 
acknowledges the work of the Aero Squad After School Program at the 
Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, that will give 
young minority aviators experience in the field of civil aviation.
  Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) for her comments on the bill, 
as she has a response to the bill which our committee has reported out.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
support on this.
  Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to bring to the Congress this 
resolution congratulating the Aero Squad Program at Tomorrow's 
Aeronautical Museum located in my district of Compton, California. It 
is this program that provides young persons who want to learn how to 
fly the opportunity to do just that.
  Mr. Speaker, a young constituent of mine, Kenny Roy, as a part of his 
school program, traveled to Canada. Upon entering Canada, Kenny passed 
the written, medical, and flying portions of the pilot exam to become 
the youngest African American pilot in the world. It is these types of 
opportunities that are given to these young folks as well as women that 
we applaud today.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that I was able to submit this and 
that the Congress is supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to bring before Congress a 
resolution congratulating the Aero Squad Program at Tomorrow's 
Aeronautical Museum, located at the Compton, California Airport in my 
district, for providing new and innovative teaching programs that 
expose young minorities and women to aeronautics.
  On September 23, 2004, Mr. Speaker, a young constituent of mine, 
Kenny Roy, as part of the after-school program, traveled to Canada. 
Upon entering Canada, Kenny passed the written, medical, and flying 
portions of the pilot exam to become the youngest African American 
pilot in the world.
  This opportunity was made available to Kenny through an innovative 
after-school program in Compton, California. This program, located in 
my district, combines two of my passions, after-school programs for our 
Nation's youth and providing opportunities for minorities and women in 
transportation.
  This program, the Aero Squad after-school program, provides 
opportunities for our children that would otherwise not have this 
opportunity unless they enlisted in the armed services. This ``learn-
while-you-earn-program'' was created by Mr. Robin Petgrave, who is a 
licensed pilot. Mr. Petgrave dedicates his time and resources as a 
commercial pilot so that these children are exposed to civil aviation 
at its finest.
  As a former school teacher and administrator, I am well aware that 
innovative approaches to teaching our children are few and far between. 
It is programs like these that embolden the youth of America to reach 
for the skies.
  These children in Compton are able to earn ``credits'' by performing 
community service. Credits can then be traded in toward flight lessons.
  It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we can continue to provide these 
opportunities that encourage young minorities and women to consider 
careers in transportation. I am inspired by the creativity and 
innovation that the Aero Squad Program embodies. I look forward in the 
109th Congress to help support programs such as this, which combine 
innovative teaching approaches with cutting-edge opportunities.
  I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the House unanimously pass this measure.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of 
the subcommittee.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from California. 
Education, guidance and opportunity are key ingredients to success, and 
I commend the gentlewoman for her initiative on this motion. I urge all 
of my colleagues to support it.

[[Page 25722]]


  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
would simply note that the air patrol in Minnesota has a similar 
program, we call it the Young Eagles, to bring young people into 
participation in aviation at an early age. It is beneficial to all of 
aviation.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 532

       Whereas youth participants perform community service in 
     exchange for flight lessons and instruction courses offered 
     through the Aero Squad After School Program at Tomorrow's 
     Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California;
       Whereas the Aero Squad After School Program, founded by 
     Robin Petgrave, provides a haven for young people to work and 
     develop workplace ethics while taking seminars that focus on 
     mathematics, airplane maintenance, and motor maintenance: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) commends the Aero Squad After School Program at 
     Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, as 
     well as other youth aviation programs that expose young 
     minorities to the field of civil aviation through 
     engineering, science, and mathematics enrichment courses;
       (2) commends civil aviation enrichment programs that 
     encourage minorities and underrepresented groups to enter the 
     field of civil aviation; and
       (3) congratulates the graduates of the Aero Squad After 
     School Program at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, 
     California, who have obtained pilot licenses, including Kenny 
     Roy, who obtained his student pilot license in Canada.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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