[House Report 110-452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-452

======================================================================


 
HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BARRINGTON ANTONIO IRVING, THE YOUNGEST 
 PILOT AND FIRST PERSON OF AFRICAN DESCENT EVER TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE 
                                 WORLD

                                _______
                                

 November 15, 2007.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 661]

  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 661) honoring the 
accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, the youngest 
pilot and first person of African descent ever to fly solo 
around the world, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon with amendment and recommend that the resolution as 
amended be agreed to.
  The amendments are as follows:
  Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
following:

That the House of Representatives--
          (1) honors the accomplishments of Barrington Irving, the 
        youngest pilot and first person of African descent ever to fly 
        solo around the world and founder of a nonprofit organization 
        that inspires youth to pursue careers in aviation and 
        aerospace;
          (2) encourages young people and minorities to pursue 
        educational opportunities in preparation for careers in 
        aviation and related industries; and
          (3) encourages museums throughout the Nation related to 
        aviation to commemorate the historic achievements of Captain 
        Barrington Irving.

  Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas Barrington Irving was born in 1983 in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised 
in inner-city Miami, Florida; and

Whereas Irving discovered his passion for aviation at the age of 15 when 
Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline pilot who has since served as his 
mentor, took him to tour the cockpit of a Boeing 777;

Whereas Irving overcame financial hardship to pursue his dream to become a 
pilot by working miscellaneous jobs and working for private aircraft owners 
in exchange for flying lessons;

Whereas Irving was the recipient of a joint Air Force/Florida Memorial 
University Flight Awareness Scholarship to cover college tuition and flying 
lessons for his tireless volunteer efforts and commitment to community 
service;

Whereas in 2003, Irving contacted companies including aircraft manufacturer 
Columbia, which agreed to provide him with a plane to fly around the world 
if he could secure donations and components;

Whereas over several years, Irving visited aviation trade shows throughout 
the country and secured more than $300,000 of cash and donated components 
including the engine, tires, cockpit systems, and seats for a Columbia 400, 
one of the world's fastest single-engine piston airplanes;

Whereas in the process of pursuing his dream of an around the world flight, 
Irving founded a nonprofit organization in 2005 to address the significant 
shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace;

Whereas Irving's efforts have garnered widespread community support and 
sponsorship as an effective model to expose young people and 
underrepresented groups to opportunities in aviation;

Whereas on March 23, 2007, Irving embarked from Miami, Florida, on a 
24,600-mile flight around the world in an airplane named ``Inspiration'' at 
23-years of age while still a senior majoring in aerospace at Florida 
Memorial University;

Whereas on June 27, 2007, Irving concluded his flight in Miami, Florida, 
after stopping in 27 cities throughout the world; and

Whereas Irving continues to inspire youth and adults alike with his 
achievements and work to increase the accessibility of opportunities in 
aviation and aerospace: Now, therefore, be it

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    House Resolution 661, as amended, expresses the House of 
Representatives' support for the accomplishments of Barrington 
Antonio Irving, a 23-year-old senior majoring in aerospace at 
Florida Memorial University and the youngest pilot and first 
person of African descent ever to embark on a 24,600-mile solo 
flight around the world.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 661 expresses the House of Representatives' support 
for the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, the 
youngest pilot and the first person of African descent ever to 
embark on a 24,600-mile solo flight around the world.
    Irving was born in 1983 in Kingston, Jamaica, and was 
raised in Miami, Florida. He discovered a passion for aviation 
at the age of 15 when Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline 
pilot, who has since served as his mentor, took him to tour the 
cockpit of a Boeing 777.
    In 2003, Irving's passion for aviation propelled him to 
attend the Florida Memorial University where he majored in 
aerospace. That same year, Irving began pursuing a new dream of 
becoming the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.
    Irving began contacting companies including an aircraft 
manufacturer, Columbia, which agreed to provide him with a 
plane to fly around the world if he could secure donations and 
components. Over several years, Irving visited aviation trade 
shows throughout the country and secured more than $300,000 in 
cash and donated components including the engine, tires, 
cockpit systems, and seats for a Columbia 400, one of the 
world's fastest single-engine piston airplanes.
    While fundraising for his flight around the world and 
earning his pilot's license, Irving overcame other financial 
hardships by doing miscellaneous jobs for private aircraft 
owners in exchange for flying lessons, and by earning a 
scholarship for his volunteer efforts and commitment to 
community service.
    In 2005, Irving blended his commitment to community service 
and his passion for aviation when he founded a nonprofit 
organization that addresses the significant shortage of young 
men and women pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace.
    In March 2007, at the age of 23, Irving finally realized 
his dream. He took off from Miami, Florida, on a 24,600-mile 
flight around the world in an airplane named ``Inspiration'', 
becoming the youngest pilot and the first person of African 
descent to fly around the world. During his flight, Irving 
stopped in 27 cities before finally landing back in Miami, 
Florida.
    This resolution honors Irving's passion for aviation and 
his commitment to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. This 
resolution also recognizes Irving for his volunteer efforts and 
commitment to community service. It encourages museums 
throughout the nation related to aviation to commemorate the 
historic achievements of Captain Barrington Irving.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 661 honors Irving's passion for aviation and his 
commitment to pursue his dream to become a pilot by doing 
miscellaneous jobs, working for private aircraft owners in 
exchange for flying lessons, and later founding a nonprofit 
organization to address the shortage of youth pursuing careers 
in aviation and aerospace. This resolution recognizes Irving 
for his volunteer efforts and commitment to community service 
and encourages museums throughout the nation related to 
aviation to commemorate the historic achievements of Captain 
Barrington Irving.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On September 18, 2007, Representative Alcee L. Hastings 
introduced H. Res. 661.
    On October 31, 2007, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 661. 
During consideration of the resolution, an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute was adopted that made technical 
corrections to the resolution. The Committee ordered H. Res. 
661, as amended, reported favorably to the House by voice vote 
with a quorum present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with any amendment 
offered to H. Res. 661 or on ordering the resolution reported. 
A motion to order H. Res. 661, as amended, reported favorably 
to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, H. Res. 661 is a resolution of the House of 
Representatives and therefore does not have the force of law. 
As such, there is no cost associated with this resolution for 
fiscal year 2008, or for any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance 
goals and objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is 
required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for 
any measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 661 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 661 is a resolution of 
the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the 
force of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not 
apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 661 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 661 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
Resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 661 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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