[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7829-H7830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING THE NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION ON ITS 70TH
ANNIVERSARY
Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1669) congratulating the National Air
Transportation Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1669
Whereas the National Air Transportation Association (NATA)
was founded 70 years ago on December 28, 1940, with 83
charter member companies who were instrumental in supporting
the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP);
Whereas on December 27, 1938, the CPTP was formed by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt who approved a Civil
Aeronautics Authority plan to boost the private flying
industry by annually teaching 20,000 college students to fly;
Whereas the CPTP trained thousands of new pilots;
Whereas in 1940, NATA was instrumental in working with
Congress to support the CPTP;
Whereas the current general aviation industry owes much to
the foresight and resiliency of the founders of NATA, William
A. Ong and Leslie H. Bowman, the association's first two
presidents, as well as George E. Haddaway, John L. Gaylord,
and others who played a strong role in the organization's
formation;
Whereas the general aviation industry accounts for hundreds
of thousands of American jobs and contributes approximately
$90 billion to the United States economy;
Whereas today NATA represents over 2,000 member companies
that own, operate, or service aircraft and provide for the
needs of the traveling public by offering services and
products to aircraft operators and others such as fuel sales,
aircraft maintenance, parts sales, storage, rental airline
servicing, flight training, Part 135 on-demand air charter,
fractional aircraft program management, and scheduled
commuter operations for smaller aircraft;
Whereas NATA continues to represent the legislative,
regulatory, and business interests of general aviation
businesses;
Whereas NATA provides education, services, and benefits to
its members to ensure their long-term economic success;
Whereas NATA is dedicated to establishing programs to
improve general aviation safety; and
Whereas NATA established the Air Charter Safety Foundation
to continuously enhance the safety and security practices of
charter and shared aircraft owners and operators in the
United States and worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the National Air Transportation
Association for celebrating its 70th anniversary;
(2) applauds the National Air Transportation Association
for creating programs and resources to enhance the safety of
general aviation operators; and
(3) commends the National Air Transportation Association
for being instrumental in bolstering the general aviation
industry during a time of turmoil in the 1940s.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. CARNAHAN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 1669.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1669, as amended, which
congratulates the National Air Transportation Association for
celebrating its 70th anniversary.
As this resolution recognizes, NATA played an indispensable role in
the development of general aviation in the United States. Since its
founding in 1940, at a time when general aviation in the U.S. was at a
crossroads, NATA has grown to represent more than 2,000 companies that
own, operate, or service aircraft and provide services to general
aviation pilots and aircraft owners. NATA serves as these companies'
advocate before Federal policymakers and lawmakers.
The general aviation industry supports thousands of American jobs and
is an essential contributor to the U.S. economy. Since its founding,
the National Air Transportation Association has played a major role in
advocating for a vibrant and healthy general aviation industry.
H. Res. 1669 recognizes NATA's historical contributions to general
aviation and congratulates them for its 70th anniversary. I urge my
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
author of the resolution before us, my colleague from Tennessee, James
Duncan.
{time} 1710
Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for
yielding.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1669, to congratulate and
compliment the National Air Transportation Association on its 70th
anniversary, and for its advocacy of general aviation in the United
States of America. NATA is the leading organization representing
aviation service businesses such as fixed base operators, charter
providers, and aircraft management companies.
At the start of World War II, the Federal Government drafted plans to
ground all private aviation for the duration of the war. Such a ban
would have crippled general aviation in this country for years to come.
However, 83 founding members started the NATA in 1940 with the purpose
of showing how private aviation could be an asset to our country and to
its national security, and certainly not a threat. In fact, the NATA
helped save the Civilian Pilot Training Program that was created by
President Franklin Roosevelt just a few years earlier. This program
trained thousands of college students to fly, many of whom later
contributed to the war effort.
Today, NATA represents over 2,000 member companies that own, operate,
or service aircraft, and provide for the needs of the traveling public
by offering services and products to aircraft operators and others such
as fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, parts sales, storage, rental
airline services, flight training, Part 135 on demand air charters,
fractional aircraft program management, and scheduled commuter
operations from smaller aircraft.
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 larger commercial airports. In addition, the general
aviation industry represents millions of jobs, and contributes $150
billion to the U.S. economy. General aviation is a vital component of
the transportation industry in the United States.
Not only does the association represent aviation interests in
Washington, it takes an active role in promoting aviation in our
communities. NATA provides grants to schools for the purpose of
purchasing educational materials. The NATA also provides scholarships
to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation.
Madam Speaker, I served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation
for 6 years. I personally witnessed the National Air Transportation
Association's tireless efforts on behalf of private aviation.
Finally, I would like to mention that the president of this
association is our former colleague, former Congressman Jim Coyne.
While in Congress, Congressman Coyne regularly flew to and from his
congressional district in Pennsylvania. He has served in this position
since 1994. And I would like to
[[Page H7830]]
say that the members of the NATA are very fortunate to have someone
with his knowledge of the aviation community to lead their association.
I introduced this resolution to recognize this association and its
contributions to private aviation. I hope my colleagues will join me in
support of this bill.
Mr. CARNAHAN. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before
us sponsored by my colleague from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan),
congratulating the National Air Transportation Association for
celebrating the organization's 70th anniversary. The resolution also
applauds the association's efforts over the years to improve general
aviation safety and bolster the general aviation industry.
NATA represents over 2,000 member companies that provide millions of
jobs in the United States that support the general aviation industry.
NATA member companies provide for many of the behind the scenes support
for general aviation, including fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, parts
sales, storage, and flight training, just to name a few. These sectors
of the general aviation industry support jobs for millions of Americans
and contribute $150 billion to the United States economy.
NATA played a big role in the resurgence of aviation after World War
II and continues to play an important advocacy role for its member
companies. Most importantly, the association plays an active role in
improving safety for its member companies and the traveling public.
I support the resolution, and urge my colleagues to adopt the
resolution.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1669, as
amended, which congratulates the National Air Transportation
Association (NATA) for celebrating its 70th anniversary. NATA was
founded on December 28, 1940, at a critical moment in the development
of general aviation in the United States. At its founding, NATA
represented 83 aerospace companies whose leaders unified to represent
the interests of general aviation before Congress.
Today, NATA represents more than 2,000 member companies that own,
operate, or service aircraft and provide for the needs of the traveling
public by offering services and products to aircraft operators and
others. General aviation stimulates local and regional economies and
supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.
H. Res. 1669 recognizes NATA's historical contributions to general
aviation and congratulates NATA for celebrating its 70th anniversary. I
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
Mr. PETRI. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and his service on the Aviation Subcommittee. I
appreciate working with him, and for him bringing this to the floor. I
have no further requests for time, I would just encourage the body to
adopt this resolution, and yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1669, 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.
____________________