[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19594-19597]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING GENERAL AVIATION

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 508) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the general aviation industry should be recognized 
for its contributions to the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 508

       Whereas general aviation includes all civilian flying 
     except scheduled passenger airlines;
       Whereas there are nearly 600,000 licensed pilots in the 
     United States and an estimated 500,000 of these pilots fly 
     general aviation aircraft;
       Whereas the United States accounts for more than half of 
     all general aviation activity worldwide;
       Whereas 170,000,000 passengers fly annually using personal 
     aviation;
       Whereas there are more than 231,000 active general aviation 
     aircraft in the United States;
       Whereas the general aviation industry contributes more than 
     $150,000,000,000 to United States direct and indirect 
     economic output;
       Whereas the United States general aviation industry employs 
     nearly 1,300,000 people whose collective annual earnings 
     exceed $53,000,000,000;
       Whereas general aviation contributes high-skill jobs in 
     aircraft manufacturing, avionics and technology development, 
     flight training, maintenance, modification, and technical 
     support;
       Whereas an estimated 65 percent of general aviation flights 
     are conducted for business and public services, many of which 
     are located in or need access to smaller communities that do 
     not have commercial aviation;
       Whereas general aviation helps save lives through the 
     transport of blood supplies, vital transport organs, and 
     other time-critical items;
       Whereas general aviation contributes to economic 
     development by facilitating meetings and other activities for 
     businesses of all sizes;
       Whereas general aviation is used to protect the environment 
     by assisting with the surveying of wildlife, the mapping of 
     wetlands, and the patrolling of parklands;
       Whereas general aviation is a vital tool for agricultural 
     producers, who often rely on air service for crop planting 
     and protection as well as livestock herd management;
       Whereas general aviation aids in law enforcement through 
     patrolling highways, apprehending suspects, monitoring 
     national borders, and locating lost children;
       Whereas there are 5,200 public use airports and more than 
     13,000 privately owned landing facilities in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas only about 500 of these airports have commercial 
     airline service, making general aviation an integral part of 
     the transportation system that supports communities across 
     the United States and provides essential air travel options 
     to businesses and the public: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the many contributions of the general 
     aviation industry; and
       (2) encourages general aviation activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page 19595]]

Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
LoBiondo) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend remarks and 
to include extraneous material on H. Res. 508.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 508, introduced by 
the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) and urge its adoption by 
the House today. H. Res. 508 recognizes the contributions made to the 
United States by the general aviation industry. Current data indicate 
this industry contributes more than $150 billion to the United States 
economy and provides good paying jobs to nearly 1.3 million people in a 
range of professions.
  Approximately 300 U.S. communities have scheduled air service. For 
the remainder of our Nation's communities, general aviation provides 
the only option for the movement of persons or cargo by air. General 
aviation also provides specialized air services such as air ambulance 
and traffic patrol services to communities that do have scheduled air 
service.
  A recent study commissioned by the Maryland Aviation Administration 
found that in 2005 general aviation activities at the 34 general 
aviation commuter airports in Maryland supported nearly 7,000 direct, 
indirect and induced jobs. General aviation in Maryland also generated 
nearly $400 million in direct, indirect and induced consumption 
expenditures and personal income in my State.
  As a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I 
support my colleague's resolution and agree that general aviation makes 
a significant contribution to the national economy because it fulfills 
transportation needs which cannot otherwise be met. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 508 offered 
by my colleague from Nebraska, Mr. Fortenberry. The resolution 
expresses the sense of the House that the general aviation community be 
recognized for numerous contributions to the United States.
  I'd like to yield to Mr. Fortenberry such time as he may consume.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased as well to rise today in 
support of this resolution that recognizes the contributions of general 
aviation in the United States. The general aviation industry employs 
nearly 1.3 million Americans throughout the country. General aviation, 
which includes all civilian flying except scheduled passenger airlines, 
contributes more than $150 billion in direct and indirect economic 
output in our country.
  The resolution we are considering today celebrates the many areas in 
which general aviation plays an important role in the lives of everyday 
Americans. But, unfortunately, many of these contributions are often 
overlooked. Well beyond the services it provides for businesses of all 
sizes, the general aviation industry has a significant impact on our 
society. Across the Nation, 500,000 licensed pilots fly general 
aviation aircraft, and each year 170 million Americans use personal 
aviation. The 1.3 million Americans who work in the field hold high-
skill jobs in aircraft manufacturing, avionics and technology 
development, flight training, maintenance, modification as well as 
technical support.
  Mr. Speaker, in my own home State of Nebraska, more than 5,000 people 
are employed in air transportation, and general aviation airports 
generate $720 million annually within our State. Additionally, general 
aviation is used to perform essential services necessary for our safety 
and well-being, such as aiding law enforcement through patrolling 
highways, apprehending suspects, monitoring national borders or 
locating lost children. General aviation also helps to save lives 
through emergency transport of patients, supplies and other time-
critical items.
  The aviation industry protects the environment by assisting with the 
surveying of wildlife, mapping of wetlands and the patrolling of 
parklands. And, in addition, it serves as a vital tool for agricultural 
producers who often rely on air service for crop planting as well as 
crop protection.
  For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, and others laid out in the 
resolution, I encourage my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
the great importance of general aviation to America's families and 
communities.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, so we would 
reserve.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the aviation industry is a 
vital part of small business. They rely on their fleets to provide the 
efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods and personnel.
  It is very appropriate that we are considering this resolution today. 
The Experimental Aircraft Association is holding its annual convention 
this week in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, known as the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. 
It is referred to by many simply as ``Oshkosh.'' It is the world's 
largest general aviation fly-in.
  A healthy and productive general aviation industry is important to 
both our Nation's economy and to the American way of life, and I urge 
all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I would just urge my colleagues to vote 
for this very, very important resolution.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 508, 
which recognizes the general aviation industry for its many and 
valuable contributions to our country. As a member of the Congressional 
General Aviation Caucus and as a representative from Kansas, I have 
special appreciation for the contributions of this industry.
  In Kansas, the aviation industry accounts for about 20 percent of the 
state's manufacturing employment and employs tens of thousands of 
Kansans. Nationwide, the general aviation industry employs nearly 1.3 
million people and contributes more than $150 billion to U.S. direct 
and indirect economic output.
  While these numbers are impressive and significant, the industry's 
impact on our economy is even greater than the value of the products it 
produces.
  General aviation connects businesses and facilitates economic growth. 
It is estimated that 65 percent of general aviation flights are 
conducted for business and public services. Especially for businesses 
located in rural communities that do not have access to commercial 
aviation, general aviation aircraft help American businesses stay 
connected with customers and allow companies in small towns to compete 
across the country.
  It is important that my colleagues understand this. I was troubled in 
January during consideration of the TARP Reform and Accountability Act, 
that provisions to limit businesses from leasing or using general 
aircraft for business purposes were almost included in the final 
legislation. Doing so would have hampered economic activity, lowered 
national aviation production, and hurt workers everywhere, but 
especially in Kansas, where a large portion of our country's aviation 
products are manufactured. Congress must remember the importance of the 
general aviation industry to not only our national economy but to so 
many local and regional economies within the country.
  That is why I am pleased that we are taking up this resolution today. 
Like most all industries, general aviation has not been spared by the 
recession. During difficult times like these, it is especially 
important for Congress to support general aviation. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution and oppose any future proposal 
that would damage the general aviation industry.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, as a pilot-in-training, and also the co-
chairman of the House General Aviation Caucus, I rise in strong support 
of H. Res. 508, expressing the sense of the House that the general 
aviation industry should be recognized for its important contributions 
to our economy and our transportation system. I thank Congressman 
Fortenberry for introducing this important Resolution.

[[Page 19596]]

  General aviation is a general category that includes all non-
scheduled, nonmilitary aviation. There are more than 230,000 general 
aviation aircraft in the United States, which fly out of nearly 19,000 
small and regional airports, far exceeding the 500 commercial airports 
in the United States. 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. Actually, airplanes are 
a productive tool, and companies that utilize general aviation are 
generally more competitive. More often than not, these airplanes pay 
for themselves.
  In the wake of recent disparaging stories about general aviation, 
Congressman Allen Boyd and I formed the House General Aviation Caucus 
to help educate our colleagues and the public about the importance of 
general aviation to our economy and to our overall transportation 
system.
  The General Aviation industry contributes more than $150 billion to 
the U.S. economy annually, and it employs nearly 1.3 million workers. 
In 2008, U.S. general aviation airplane manufacturers delivered over 
3,079 airplanes to customers in the United States and abroad. The total 
value of these aircraft was nearly $13 billion, of which 44 percent 
were exports. The General Aviation industry is one of the few remaining 
U.S. industries that actually maintains a strong, positive foreign 
trade balance.
  As one of the champions of General Aviation in the House of 
Representatives, I strongly support this resolution, and urge the 
Members of the House to pass it.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. 
Res. 508, introduced by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), 
which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
general aviation (GA) industry, which includes all civilian flying 
except scheduled passenger airlines activity, should be recognized for 
its contributions to the United States. I thank Representative 
Fortenberry for his leadership on this measure.
  The United States has the most robust GA industry in the world. GA 
transports 170 million passengers annually, on over 230,000 aircraft. 
GA stimulates local and regional economies--it comprises over $150 
billion in direct and indirect economic output and supports almost 1.3 
million jobs. Many of these jobs are high-skill jobs in manufacturing, 
avionics and technology development as well as flight training, 
maintenance, modification, and technical support.
  In addition, GA provides communities with essential services, and 
affords large and small businesses the flexibility and mobility that 
they need to be successful in both large communities as well as small, 
rural ones. Many industries and public services depend on GA, including 
emergency medicine, firefighting, surveying wildlife, law enforcement, 
news services, energy exploration, and farming.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 508.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 508. I'm a proud member of the General Aviation Caucus and 
have been a long time supporter of general aviation. My husband was a 
fighter pilot in Vietnam, and now we fly an RV-8 aircraft, which he 
built in our garage.
  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 contributes high-skill jobs in aircraft 
manufacturing, avionics and technology development, and flight 
training. This 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.
  According to a 2006 report from the General Aviation Manufacturers 
Association, general aviation contributes more than $4.1 billion in 
value to the state of Michigan alone. And there are more than 200 
general aviation airports in Michigan--these airports are a vital link 
to rural communities.
  After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the General Aviation community 
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.
  The General Aviation Community has made impressive contributions to 
our nation's economy and security. So I am proud to support this 
resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 508 recognizes the contributions of 
general aviation and encourages general aviation activities. General 
aviation is a little recognized, major sector of the airline industry, 
which contributes $150 billion to United States direct and indirect 
economic output. I also want to mention the Transportation Security 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009, which included an important 
section setting up a general aviation working group within the Aviation 
Security Advisory Committee, to advise the Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA) on security issues in general aviation. This 
advisory group was established after the TSA began rulemaking on the 
Large Aircraft Security Program that threatened to swallow general 
aviation amidst burdensome and unnecessary regulations, suited for 
large commercial aircraft. Longstanding unattended issues and 
insufficient attention to the nation's important General Aviation 
sector are finally getting the attention they deserve. Along with other 
members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I intend to see 
that General Aviation security issues are treated uniquely for the 
sector to administer.
  However, as most members who have sat in on any hearing with the FAA, 
TSA, DHS or any other security agency may now know, the District of 
Columbia's main airport, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 
(DCA), is uniquely hampered by impossibly restrictive regulations that 
have destroyed general aviation in the nation's capitol, and arbitrary 
practices may be spreading to others. In the Homeland Security 
Committee, we have taken the important first steps to give detailed 
attention to this major section of the airline industry to the new 
administration.
  After 9/11 the restrictions on General Aviation in the nation's 
capitol, in particular, became symbolic of arbitrary action against 
general aviation that could happen anywhere. Even though New York City 
was the epicenter of 9/11, the nation's capitol is the only location 
that suffers under unique restrictions that have crippled general 
aviation here. In fact, there was no general aviation for four years. 
After joining in my complaints at hearings, the former Chairman of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Don Young, threatened to 
subpoena any agency that did not comply with a bill that aimed to 
compel the resumption of general aviation flights at DCA and to hold 
them in contempt if they refused to appear before the committee to 
report on progress. As a result, a plan finally was put in place with 
requirements but the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) was 
almost worse than no plan at all. Before 9/11, general aviation 
activity at DCA accounted for \1/3\ (approximately 30,000) of the total 
annual operations at DCA. In contrast, in October 2005 when program 
DASSP began, operations averaged about one flight per week. Today, 
activity averages about three to four flights per day, about 1,000 a 
year. The requirements in the DASSP include:
  General aviation operators must adopt a security program, background 
checks on flight crews, identify a security coordinator, and train on 
security procedures.
  All DASSP flights must carry an armed security officer (ASO) on board 
(very few such accredited officers are available).
  Flights must depart from one of 27 TSA approved DASSP gateway 
airports. Full departure screening of crew, passengers, baggage, and 
aircraft by TSA security inspectors.
  Flights must request permission to operate in DCA no sooner than 72 
hours in advance of the flight (due to DCA slot requirements) and no 
later than 24 hours in advance of the flight (for TSA security reviews) 
for each flight into DCA.
  These same screening procedures must be used for flights departing 
DCA.
  Charges of approximately $230 are assessed to cover TSA's screening 
costs plus $15/passenger for screening names against the No-Fly and 
Selectee lists.
  Requirements for an Armed Security Officer and use of a gateway 
airport are predictably, and we think, deliberately impossible for most 
operators to meet. TSA has approximately 200 registered operators in 
the DASSP, making the wait for an ASO intolerable.
  However, the Department of Homeland Security has determined ``that 
general aviation presents only limited and mostly hypothetical threats 
to security . . . (and) that the steps general aviation airport owners 
and managers have taken to enhance security are positive and 
effective.'' DHS goes further in its report on general aviation:
  ``The current status of [general aviation] operations does not 
present a serious homeland security vulnerability requiring TSA to 
increase regulatory oversight of the industry.''
  ``Although [TSA's Office of Intelligence] has identified potential 
threats, it has concluded that most [general aviation] aircraft are too 
light to inflict significant damage, and has not identified specific 
imminent threats from general aviation''.

[[Page 19597]]

  Nevertheless, the nation's capitol has been singled out as the only 
jurisdiction under particularly onerous, unnecessary and wasteful 
program restrictions. As the initial approach of TSA to general 
aviation in general showed, however, the entire general aviation sector 
was about to be buried by the Large Aircraft Security Program, until 
our committee said ``NO!'' The thoughtless creep mission of the TSA 
into General Aviation, and the total failure to weigh actual security 
risks against the implications of draconian security measures, was 
stopped by our Committee on Homeland Security. The District of Columbia 
general aviation community deserves the same respect and attention.
  General aviation at DCA is not the only industry in the District of 
Columbia that has been wiped out by arbitrary and restrictive airspace 
regulations. The South Capitol Street Heliport is a commercial heliport 
that once served east coast cities such as New York, Miami and Boston. 
It continues to serve the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit and the 
U.S. Park Police. The heliport is also the point of evacuation for the 
Supreme Court and part of the Department of Defense Nightingale 
program. In fact, on 9/11 this heliport actually became the Air Control 
Command Tower when DCA was evacuated. Moreover, having shown it was a 
vital asset, not a liability, for two years after 9/11, under an 
agreement with the Secret Service--an agreement that was later adopted 
by the TSA to develop its Civil Aviation Security Rules--the South 
Capitol Heliport continued to receive corporate commercial clients and 
news gathering helicopters. Yet, without explanation, beginning in 
October 2003, commercial operators have been altogether restricted from 
using the heliport, despite the fact that the heliport owners have been 
clear that they are willing to comply with any and all security 
demands.
  The nation's capitol has all but lost helicopter service, even for 
the vital security purposes our heliport has performed. Without 
corporate commercial clients the South Capitol Heliport cannot generate 
enough revenue to survive. The owner has submitted the highest level 
security plans, but the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security 
have failed to respond. At my request, the Committee on Homeland 
Security has added heliports specifically to the list of entities on 
the general aviation working group. This heliport is vital for both 
security and commercial helicopter operations that the District of 
Columbia cannot afford to lose. While we pause to recognize the 
importance of general aviation to the U.S. economy, I use this occasion 
to remind my colleagues in the Congress and the Administration to 
recognize the importance of general aviation to the nation's capitol.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 508.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________