[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24780-24782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING RUSS MEYER ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE NATIONAL AVIATION HALL 
                                OF FAME

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 719) commending Russ Meyer on his induction 
into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 719

       Whereas the leadership of Russell (Russ) W. Meyer, Jr., 
     former chairman and chief executive officer of Cessna 
     Aircraft Company and a leading proponent of general aviation, 
     has had a dramatic impact on the continued growth of the 
     aviation industry in Kansas and throughout the United States;
       Whereas Russ Meyer was one of the principal advocates for 
     the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 (Public Law 
     103-298; 108 Stat. 1552);
       Whereas Russ Meyer was instrumental in the development of 
     the ``Be A Pilot Program'', which has resulted in tens of 
     thousands of new pilots and contributed more than 
     $200,000,000 to the United States economy through general 
     aviation operations;
       Whereas Russ Meyer was the originator of the Citation 
     Special Olympics Airlift, in which hundreds of owners of 
     Citation aircraft transport athletes from around the country 
     to the Special Olympics National Games; and
       Whereas Russ Meyer will join fellow residents of Kansas 
     Olive Beech and Walter Beech, Lloyd Stearman, Clyde Cessna, 
     Amelia Earhart, and Joe Engle in the National Aviation Hall 
     of Fame: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends Russ Meyer for being inducted into the 
     National Aviation Hall of Fame;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of Russ Meyer during his 
     lifetime of service to the aviation industry; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to Russ Meyer.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. 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 materials on H. Res. 719.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 719, introduced by the 
gentleman

[[Page 24781]]

from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt). The resolution recognizes Russell W. Meyer, 
Jr., for his achievements and lifetime of service to the aviation 
industry and commends him on his induction into the National Aviation 
Hall of Fame.
  As a leading proponent of aviation, Russ demonstrated strong 
leadership as the former chairman and chief executive officer of Cessna 
Aircraft Company. He was instrumental in supporting innovative aviation 
programs and played a key role in the development of the Be A Pilot 
program that resulted in tens of thousands of new pilots and 
contributed more than $200 million to the economy.
  Russ has served on three Presidential commissions and was one of the 
principal architects of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 
1994.
  In 1995 he received one of aviation's most prestigious individual 
honors, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. It is awarded annually on 
the anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring one of 
America's pioneers in aviation by supporting H. Res. 719.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of the resolution before us, House Resolution 
719, recognizing and honoring Russell W. Meyer, Jr., on his induction 
into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Probably best known for his 
role as chairman and chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft for 28 
years, Mr. Meyer is an enthusiastic member of the general aviation 
community. In the mid-1990s, when the entire general aviation industry 
was on the brink, he helped push the General Aviation Revitalization 
Act of 1994 to enactment.
  Through the development of the Be A Pilot program, Mr. Meyer did his 
best to share his love of flying with others. And when Special Olympics 
athletes faced challenges in transportation to the Games, he organized 
the Citation Special Olympics Airlift, partnering athletes with Cessna 
Citation owners and pilots to provide a ride to the Games. In addition 
to his philanthropic work with the aviation industry, Russ Meyer was 
also an active philanthropist for local charities in and around his 
hometown.
  For his accomplishments as both an Air Force and Marine Corps 
aviator, a successful aircraft manufacturing executive and a 
philanthropist, we honor Russ Meyer and congratulate him on his 
induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers on our side.
  I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our 
colleague from Kansas, Representative Todd Tiahrt.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank Chairman Costello for 
his leadership on this legislation and also Ranking Member Petri for 
his help in recognizing Russ Meyer.
  It's with great pleasure that I come to the floor today to commend 
Russ W. Meyer, Jr., for his induction into the National Aviation Hall 
of Fame. In April, Russ joined astronauts Ellen Collins, the late 
Edward White, and movie legend Jimmy Stewart in the class of 2009.
  Russ has had a distinguished career both in the private and public 
arena. While attending Harvard Law School, Russ served with the United 
States Marine Corps Reserves from 1958 to 1961. After a few years in 
the private practice of law, Russ entered the aviation industry as 
president and CEO of Grumman American Aviation Corporation in 
Cleveland, Ohio. Then Russ came to Wichita, Kansas. Russ joined the 
Cessna Aircraft Company as executive vice president in June of 1974. 
One year later he became the chairman and CEO.
  There are few who have done more for the general aviation community 
than Russ. He led Cessna, both as chairman and CEO, for a total of 23 
years. During his time with Cessna, Russ led the expansion of the 
Cessna line of business jets, the world's most popular line of mid-
sized jets.
  Russ Meyer recognized that business jets are a tremendous 
productivity tool. It is productivity that has helped our economy grow. 
We are the number one economy of the world, and it's not because we 
have fewer regulations. We have more. It's not because we have the 
lowest wages. We're among the highest. It's because of visionaries like 
Russ Meyer who gave the American people the ability to do the same work 
in less time, making us the most productive and strongest workforce and 
economy in the world.
  In the 1980s, the general aviation industry was faced with a 
tremendous hurdle that threatened to eliminate a big portion of the 
general aviation aircraft market. Aircraft manufacturers were forced to 
cease production of their piston-powered aircraft due to liability 
issues that extended over the life of the aircraft. In response to this 
threat, Russ put his leadership to work on Capitol Hill. He became one 
of the principal advocates for the General Aviation Revitalization Act 
of 1994. This bill provided limited liability on general aviation 
aircraft and revitalized the general aviation industry.
  But this is just one of many contributions Russ has given to the 
industry as a whole. Far beyond his leadership in the business sector, 
Russ is also a philanthropist. One person described Russ as one who has 
a big heart and wants to serve the underserved. This isn't just talk. 
Russ was the chairman of a campaign to construct a 42,000-square-foot 
complex for the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas. He led the 
fundraising effort and raised over $9 million for the project.
  Russ was also the originator of the Citation Special Olympics 
Airlift, where hundreds of Citation airplane owners from around the 
country transport athletes to the national Special Olympic Games. Russ 
is also a member of the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame, a Wright Brothers 
Memorial Trophy holder, has served on three Presidential commissions, 
and the list goes on.
  Like many others, I've known Russ to be a man of vision and action. 
Whenever Russ takes on a project, he has the ability to rally and 
inspire everyone around him behind a common goal. Every community wants 
a Russ Meyer. Every community needs a Russ Meyer. The children of South 
Central Kansas needed him, and Russ delivered. The aircraft industry 
needed him, and Russ delivered. He's a big reason why Wichita is known 
as the air capital of the world.
  Once again, I am pleased today that the United States House of 
Representatives will congratulate and commend Russ W. Meyer, Jr., on 
his induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
  Mr. DICKS. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TIAHRT. I will be glad to yield to the gentleman from Washington 
State (Mr. Dicks).
  Mr. DICKS. I want to commend my colleague from Kansas for the 
extraordinary statement about Russ Meyer, who I have known over the 
years as you've stated, one of the true leaders in general aviation. 
And I'd also like to mention my good friend, who was very sick out 
there in Boise, Idaho, Ed Stimson.
  Ed was the head of general aviation manufacturing and worked with 
Russ, and they were a great team. Your colleague, your predecessor, Dan 
Glickman worked very hard on the general aviation liability 
legislation, which was an extraordinary piece of work that completely 
changed the dynamics and helped general aviation recover. And I was a 
cosponsor of that legislation. But Russ Meyer is just one of the great 
leaders in general aviation history.
  I commend the gentleman for his remarks and urge the passing of this 
resolution.
  Mr. TIAHRT. I thank the gentleman from Washington State, and I 
appreciate his contributions to the aircraft industry as well. He's 
been a stalwart in helping us get American jobs made by American 
companies, American aircraft.

[[Page 24782]]


  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, H. 
Res. 719, introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt), which 
commends Russell W. Meyer, Jr. for his induction into the National 
Aviation Hall of Fame, and for his many contributions to general 
aviation.
  Russ Meyer is an accomplished individual. He earned a Bachelor of 
Arts from Yale University and a law degree from Harvard University. 
From 1955-1961, Meyer served as a fighter pilot in both the Air Force 
and the Marine Corps Reserves. Later, Meyer was Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer of Cessna Aircraft Company from 1975 to 2003. In this 
role, Meyer won two Collier Trophies for expanding the Cessna's 
Citation line of business jets.
  Meyer was an advocate for the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 
1994, which placed fair and reasonable limitations on the time period 
during which a manufacturer would be legally liable for aircraft 
defects. He also contributed to thousands of new pilots taking flight 
in the United States with the ``Be a Pilot Program.'' This program 
helped to reduce the cost of flight schools for new pilots.
  To assist athletes traveling to the Special Olympics National Games, 
Meyer founded the Citation Special Olympics Airlift, which coordinates 
transportation to the games on Cessna owners' aircraft. In 1995, he won 
the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for this important work.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 719.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time. I 
urge passage of this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of our time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 719, 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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