[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14403-14405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1745
   CONGRATULATING AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION ON ITS 70TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. BOCCIERI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 472) congratulating and saluting the seventieth 
anniversary of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and 
their dedication to general aviation, safety and the important 
contribution general aviation provides to the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 472

       Whereas the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) 
     was formed 70 years ago, in May 1939, on the eve of World War 
     II;
       Whereas the AOPA is committed to improving general aviation 
     safety;
       Whereas the AOPA created the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 
     the only organization dedicated solely to that end, nearly 60 
     years ago;
       Whereas the AOPA represents more than 415,000 members, or 7 
     out of every 10 pilots in the United States;
       Whereas the AOPA has, for 7 decades, provided those pilots 
     with education, information, and advocacy at all levels of 
     government;
       Whereas the AOPA was among the earliest proponents of 
     civilian use of the Global Positioning Satellite System, 
     setting the stage for development of the Next Generation Air 
     Transportation System;
       Whereas the AOPA was a leading advocate of the General 
     Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, which led to the 
     recovery of the United States general aviation light aircraft 
     manufacturing industry, a major United States export and a 
     plus on the trade balance sheet;
       Whereas the AOPA has developed and maintained close working 
     relationships with agencies of the Federal Government, 
     especially the Department of Transportation, the Department 
     of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, 
     and the Transportation Security Administration; and
       Whereas those relationships have allowed the public and 
     private sectors to address various issues of legitimate 
     concern to the Federal government in ways that impose the 
     least possible burden on general aviation pilots and aircraft 
     owners: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates and salutes the Aircraft Owners and 
     Pilots Association (AOPA) for celebrating its 70th 
     anniversary;
       (2) commends the AOPA for creating the AOPA Air Safety 
     Foundation nearly 60 years ago to improve general aviation 
     safety;
       (3) commends the AOPA for helping lead the recovery of the 
     United States general aviation light aircraft manufacturing 
     industry; and
       (4) commends the AOPA for setting the stage for development 
     of the Next Generation Air Transportation System.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOCCIERI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on House Resolution 472.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 472, congratulating and 
saluting the 70th anniversary of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots 
Association and their dedication to the general aviation, safety, and 
the important contribution that general aviation provides to the United 
States of America.
  AOPA was incorporated on May 15, 1939, as a nonprofit organization 
dedicated to general aviation. AOPA represents more than 414,000 
members, which is about 70 percent of all United States pilots. In 
1950, AOPA created the Air Safety Foundation, which provides general 
aviation pilots with training, education, and research on information 
and safety that are important to all pilots.
  AOPA was a leading advocate in the General Aviation Revitalization 
Act of 1994 which led to the recovery of the U.S. general aviation and 
light aircraft manufacturing industry. In recent years, AOPA has been 
active on many general aviation issues such as global positioning 
navigation, flight service station modernization, FAA reauthorization, 
and the Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen.
  House Resolution 472 congratulates and salutes the 70th anniversary 
of AOPA and its dedication to general aviation, safety, and the 
important contribution made by all aviators to the United States. In 
addition, the resolution commends AOPA for creating the Air Safety 
Foundation, leading the recovery of general aviation of light aircraft 
in the manufacturing industry and setting the stage for the development 
of NextGen.
  For these reasons and others, I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 472.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 472. 
I'm a cosponsor of the resolution introduced by my colleague, Mr. Dent 
of Pennsylvania, congratulating the Aircraft Owners and Pilots 
Association on the organization's 70th anniversary.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 472. I am a 
cosponsor of the resolution introduced by Mr. Dent congratulating the 
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) on the organization's 
70th anniversary.
  For decades, AOPA has provided important safety information to pilots 
all over the country, making it a valuable safety partner with the FAA 
and the House Transportation Committee.
  In addition, AOPA continues to perform an advocacy function for 
pilots and aircraft owners providing a helpful voice both at the FAA 
and here in Congress. Representing roughly 415,000 pilots and aircraft 
owners, AOPA has been a valuable stakeholder helping to shape policy 
solutions to safety issues facing the general aviation industry.

[[Page 14404]]

  Finally, in representing pilots and aircraft owners, AOPA represents 
a general aviation industry that is critical to our nation's economy. 
The manufacturing of general aviation aircraft as well as the 
maintenance and operation of general aviation aircraft supports 
1,265,000 high-quality jobs here in the United States. General aviation 
also inspires the love for flying that has led to so many U.S. 
commercial airline pilot careers.
  I support the adoption of the resolution.
  I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the resolution, 
Representative Charles Dent.
  Mr. DENT. Thank you, Congressman Petri, for your part of this 
legislation.
  On May 15, 2009, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, or AOPA, 
celebrated its 70th anniversary. Since its inception on the eve of the 
Second World War, AOPA has grown to be one of the strongest voices for 
general aviation in the United States.
  Throughout its rich history, AOPA has developed and maintained close 
working relationships with Federal Government agencies including the 
Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Federal 
Aviation Administration, and the Transportation Security 
Administration. By working closely with these agencies, AOPA has helped 
us create the safest and most efficient aviation system in the world.
  For the last 7 years, AOPA has also fostered a dynamic relationship 
with Congress, and specifically the members of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure on which I serve. The association's 
first political activity was to urge the U.S. Senate to pass 
legislation establishing the civilian pilot training program which 
allows thousands of American pilots to gain their certification through 
Federal Government support. Decades later, AOPA remains a key actor in 
the development in our Nation's aviation policy having played a vital 
role in the crafting and passage of this year's FAA Reauthorization 
Act.
  Today, AOPA's membership exceeds 400,000, including seven out of 
every 10 pilots in this Nation. I'm confident every Member of Congress 
currently has a valuable relationship with the general aviation pilots 
flying in their districts.
  On a personal note, AOPA members from the Lehigh Valley area serve on 
my aviation advisory board proved to be some of the most informed and 
influential participants. Their expertise has truly been a great 
resource for me as I serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee and the Aviation Subcommittee.
  Madam Speaker, I believe the passage of this resolution 
congratulating AOPA on its 70 years of service is a fitting way to 
salute the many pilots who help make our aviation system the safest and 
most efficient in the world. And at this time I would like to encourage 
everybody to support this legislation and urge its adoption.
  Mr. PETRI. At this time, Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he 
may consume to my colleague from Michigan, Vern Ehlers.
  Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  As a student pilot, and as the cochairman of the House General 
Aviation Caucus, as well as a proud member of the Aircraft Owners and 
Pilots Association, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 472, honoring 
the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association on their 70th anniversary.
  Since 1939, AOPA has effectively represented the general aviation 
community at the local, State, and Federal levels. With a membership of 
more than 415,000--or two-thirds of all of the pilots in the United 
States--AOPA is the largest and one of the most influential aviation 
associations in the world. I have been a member for a number of years.
  General aviation is a catch-all category that includes all 
nonscheduled, all nonmilitary aviation. 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 commercial 
airports.
  Recently, general aviation has come under attack by the media and 
those that view general aviation as a corporate indulgence or an 
expensive toy used exclusively by the wealthy. That is simply not true. 
Actually, the fact is that companies that utilize general aviation are 
more productive and, thus, more competitive.
  I can give two examples from my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  Recently, I was talking to a businessman there. He's a contractor. 
He's built a number of buildings. They've decided to expand into the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan and into Canada. As you know, Michigan is 
surrounded by the Great Lakes so it's very hard to get from point A to 
point B quickly. However, they bought an airplane, and they were able 
to zip easily from the Grand Rapids headquarters to all the work sites 
in Canada and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. More often than not, 
these airplanes pay for themselves.
  I have another businessman in Grand Rapids who told me that his 
airplane saved him a considerable amount of money because when his 
executives went to visit his plants scattered around the U.S.--most of 
them in forests because he's in the lumbering business and he has 30-
some businesses around the country--it takes at least one person one 
day to get to any of these sites using commercial aviation because they 
have to go to a major commercial airport, rent a car and drive 30, 40 
miles into the forest to their site. But with their own private 
airplane, they could usually land within a few miles. They can complete 
three business visits in 1 day instead of one.
  So, as they say, these airplanes pay for themselves.
  In addition, most of the private pilots I know are not rich but 
middle class working people that love to fly. In the wake of these 
disparaging stories that have appeared in the media, the AOPA and its 
supporters in Congress have worked hard to educate the public and 
spread the word about the importance of general aviation to our economy 
and our transportation system.
  Every private pilot is passionate about flying, and the AOPA is the 
organization they rely on to stay abreast of current political events 
and aviation events and to advocate on their behalf.
  I congratulate the AOPA on this historic anniversary, and I wish them 
continued success, and I look forward to celebrating future 
anniversaries with them as well. And I hope by then, I am able to fly 
more often than I am while I'm in the Congress.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his 
efforts to promote general aviation. It's very clear, having, myself, 
several classifications as a multiengine commercial instrument single 
engineer, that general aviation needs to do all it can to promote and 
respond to the needs of its pilots--in particular, training of the 
pilots. It is very important that we recognize the significance of this 
organization and what it means to general aviation.
  I concur with the remarks of the ranking member and also concur with 
the gentleman and his remarks with respect to the importance of this 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, 
H. Res. 472, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), 
which congratulates and salutes the 70th anniversary of the Aircraft 
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and its dedication to general 
aviation (GA), safety, and the important contribution that GA provides 
to the United States. The resolution also commends AOPA for: creating 
the Air Safety Foundation, leading the recovery of the GA light 
aircraft manufacturing industry, and setting the stage for the 
development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System by being 
an early proponent of the civilian use of the Global Positioning 
System. I thank Representative Dent for his leadership on this measure.
  AOPA was incorporated on May 15, 1939, as a non-profit organization 
dedicated to GA. Since then, the organization has been a leading 
advocate for GA pilots and now represents about 415,000 members. AOPA 
has also provided GA pilots with valuable safety education

[[Page 14405]]

and training through the Air Safety Foundation, which was created in 
1950. The Air Safety Foundation is the largest non-profit organization 
dedicated solely to GA safety.
  AOPA was a primary supporter of the General Aviation Revitalization 
Act (GARA) of 1994. The GA industry boomed following the passage of 
GARA, which placed fair and reasonable limitations on the time period 
during which a manufacturer would be legally liable for aircraft 
defects.
  I congratulate AOPA for working to support GA over the past 70 years. 
GA stimulates local and regional economies--it comprises over one 
percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and supports almost 1.2 
million jobs. In addition, GA provides communities with essential 
services, and affords businesses the flexibility and mobility that they 
require. Many industries and public services depend on GA to be 
successful and efficient, including emergency medicine, firefighting, 
news services, energy exploration, and farming.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 472.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res 472, a resolution to congratulate the Aircraft Owners 
and Pilots Association on their seventieth anniversary, and speak to 
their dedication to general aviation, to safety, and the important 
contribution general aviation provides to the United States.
  The AOPA was established seventy years ago, on the eve of World War 
II. This non-profit association has been dedicated to general aviation, 
improving general aviation safety, providing pilots with training, 
education and advocating on their behalf at every level of government.
  More than 75% of all flights in the United States are general 
aviation. America relies on general aviation for business, medical 
delivery services, sightseeing and for just plain fun and a love of 
flying.
  General aviation is a vital industry in America's economy. Currently 
there are 19,000 airports nationwide that provide jobs for 1.3 million 
Americans and bring in more than $100 billion dollars annually.
  After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the AOPA responded by partnering 
with the TSA to develop a nationwide Airport Watch Program that uses 
pilots as eyes and ears for observing and reporting suspicious 
activity.
  Flight Safety has remained a principal focus for the AOPA, so they 
have supported new technologies to make aviation safer. AOPA was a 
principle advocator of the GPS navigation systems which helped lead the 
way for the Next Gen Air Transportation System--with aviation-specific 
applications and advanced innovations such as weather forecasting.
  And today, the AOPA represents more than 289,000 American general 
aviation pilots--including my husband who is a long time member. He 
started flying when he was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, and now we fly 
an RV-8, which he built in our garage.
  I am proud to support the resolution to honor the AOPA for the 
commendable work they do in the aviation field.
  Their dedication to aviation, aviation safety, training general 
aviation pilots, and to new technologies makes me proud to support this 
association.
  Congratulations on your first 70 years.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge 
passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Madam Speaker, the swift passage of this bill is very 
important.
  I yield back my time as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boccieri) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 472.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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