Supporting the goals and ideals of International Learn to Fly Day, and for other purposes.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and I also want to recognize that Mr. Graves has been a real stalwart on the Transportation Committee, particularly the Aviation Subcommittee, with his wealth of experience in flying. The knowledge that he brings to it has just been invaluable. I really appreciate all that Mr. Graves has done for aviation in the Congress. That's very important because last year the Congress developed a negative impression of flying. You all recall, I suspect, that some corporate leaders came in asking for government funds, and they flew here in their private jets. That made headlines across the country. Unfortunately, the news media didn't leave it there, but continued to pursue the entire issue of flying and presented the portrait of the average flyer as being very wealthy and having an airplane as a toy to play with. That is far from the truth. Most pilots do not have a lot of money. Very few of them own their own airplanes. This negative impression that was formed here by the Congress and in the Congress really troubled those of us who know something about flying.

I am not a professional pilot. I would love to be, but I've never had either the time or the money to do it. But I recognize injustice when it takes place. It took place right here in the Congress of the United States. And that led to a lot of activity on our part to try to educate the public about flying, about who the pilots are, what they accomplish for the economy as a whole, and in particular, what good works they do. A good example of that is the tremendous amount of effort the private pilots of the United States exerted in helping the island of Haiti.

Just last week, we had Harrison Ford here to describe what he had done. He owns several airplanes and did a number of flights into Haiti transporting doctors, medicines, and so forth. He is an example of what I'm talking about. Not everyone who took part is a movie star, as Harrison Ford is, but he was representing a lot of people who expended a lot of their own money to aid the people in Haiti through the use of airplanes flying goods in and out, flying patients out to the United States for medical treatment when they were in serious trouble, etc. And this is just one example of the many things that pilots and aviation in general do to help the public at large.

So I'm very proud to stand here and say we have to help aviation and private pilots in every way that we can. And one good way is to encourage them to learn to fly. Many individuals normally would not think of flying, but when they see that they can accomplish so much good with aviation, we hope that they will take the time to learn how to fly and to at least join a flying club or perhaps eventually own their own airplane so that they can really go forth and help a lot of people.

It's amazing how many people do this sort of thing in various fields. For years, I was interested in ham radio. Again, a tremendous help to the economy and to the people at large is done during emergencies by ham radio operators. It's very similar with pilots. When the need is there, they will rise to the occasion and they will provide the transportation that's necessary.

In my area, we have an Angels of Mercy program, which has done tremendous good work flying people to hospitals. The patients cannot afford to take a commercial plane to get distant medical treatment. They're not in good enough shape to travel by car. And so the Angels of Mercy fly individuals at essentially no cost or very low cost so that the patients can get medical treatment in the right place at the right time.

It is high time that we recognize the good service that these pilots provide and that we do everything we can to help them in that effort. This resolution is part of that--simply encouraging people to learn to fly. I know there's a local group in my district that has taken advantage of this to publicize flight lessons in my area. They have a number of people signed up already who are willing to learn to fly so that they can accomplish good for other people.

So I strongly urge that we adopt this resolution and recognize the good work that aviation does for the general welfare of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1284) supporting the goals and ideals of International Learn to Fly Day, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of the resolution, H. Res. 1284, as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd) which supports the goals and ideals of International Learn to Fly Day and recognizes the contributions of flight instructors, flight schools, aviation groups, and industry in promoting and teaching the Nation's next generation of pilots.

International Learn to Fly Day was established on May 15, 2009, to increase interest in flying and to encourage the aviation community to get others involved in aviation. The event was announced at the Experimental Aviation Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Aviation groups, industry partners, flight schools, and flight instructors have come together to create a day dedicated to inspiring national interest in flight.

On International Learn to Fly Day, flight schools, airports, and independent flight instructors will offer free or discounted flight instruction and other educational aviation events. The aviation community will lend its time and expertise to introduce people to the thrill of flying and the opportunity to reflect back on Orville Wright. Airlines must be able to attract the next generation of commercial pilots. International Learn to Fly Day will be an important day to promote the experience of learning to fly, and to attract people to the pilot profession, of which my home city is the home to Federal Express, which employs many fine pilots and will, indeed, many more in the years to come as they continue to deliver cargo to the world.

International Learn to Fly Day will be observed each year on the third Saturday of May. I look forward to this first celebration on May 15, 2010, and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1284.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I recognize the gentleman from west Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) out of order for such time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as he may consume to the author of the resolution and a pilot himself, Mr. Boyd of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Boyd and Mr. Ehlers for bringing this resolution, and ask that all Members unanimously support H. Res. 1284, as amended.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. Res. 1284, as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd), which supports the goals and ideals of International Learn to Fly Day, and recognizes the contributions of flight instructors, flight schools, aviation groups, and industry in promoting and teaching the nation's next generation of pilots.

As an effort to increase interest in flying, and to encourage the aviation community to get others involved in aviation, International Learn to Fly Day was established on May 15, 2009. Learn to Fly Day was announced at the Experimental Aviation Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with the support of aviation groups, industry partners, flight schools, and flight instructors. The day was founded to cultivate a new generation of pilots to act as role models and to ensure that airlines are able to meet future needs for airline travel.

On Learn to Fly Day, flight schools, airports, and independent flight instructors will offer free or discounted flight instruction courses and other educational aviation events. The aviation community will lend its time and expertise to increase public interest in flying.

Many of the nation's heroes have been pilots, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and most recently, Captain Chesley ``Sully'' B. Sullenberger III and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. Flight has always been a national and international source of fascination and inspiration. To continue the significant legacy of flight, the United States needs to ensure that it can attract the next generation of commercial and recreational pilots.

International Learn to Fly Day will be an important day to promote the experience of learning to fly. This year will be the first year that the day will be celebrated, with events taking place across the country, and some internationally. International Learn to Fly Day will be observed each year on the third Saturday of May.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1284.

I thank my friend, Mr. Cohen, for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as cochairman of the General Aviation Caucus, with my friend, Vern Ehlers, my fellow cochair, in support of this resolution honoring International Learn to Fly Day. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member John Mica for their work on this bill to get it out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I also want to thank the original cosponsor of the bill, Representative Graves, for his work.

International Learn to Fly Day will be celebrated this Saturday, May 15, with opportunities throughout the country to learn more about the wonders of flying, how to get your pilots license, what to expect during flight training, and career options for you once you achieve that goal.

As many of you may surmise, I am a pilot myself, and I would encourage anyone I know to pursue their desire to learn to fly. You will not be disappointed. It's never too late to learn. Unlike Mr. Graves, I didn't grow up around flying, but in the service I became very interested in flying when I got an opportunity to spend a lot of time in a plane. When I came home and went into my profession, I continued to do that from time to time, and then, only less than 4 years ago, I achieved a lifelong goal of getting my private pilots license. I'm telling you, it has not been a disappointing experience.

I think it's very clear to us that when you travel around the country from time to time and go to these airports, particularly some of the smaller municipal airports, and see the general aviation activity, we learn how dependent we are in this country upon flying, and particularly the general aviation business. We have seen a good example in the recent volcano activity in Europe that our economies and our lives are limited without the ability to fly.

Mr. Speaker, Congress will surely earn its wings today if we pass this resolution. I urge support of H.R. 1284, and your local International Learn to Fly Day activities.

Mr. Speaker, I was in a conference committee and could not get to the floor when the Tennessee delegation was speaking about the unprecedented flooding. Sixteen of the 19 counties in the Eighth District have been declared a disaster, and we expect the other three.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1337 to acknowledge the difficulties facing many Tennesseans as a result of the severe weather that struck our area recently.

Sadly, the storms that hit our area took seven lives in the 19 counties that make up the Eighth District, which we are honored to represent in this chamber. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families.

Additionally, there remains damage in all 19 counties that make up the Eighth District. We are appreciative that at the time we consider this resolution, 16 of those counties have been declared federal disaster areas, giving Tennessee families and businesses access to much-needed assistance as they get back on their feet. We are hopeful that the necessary assessments will be completed soon to allow federal assistance to all the counties we represent and others across the State.

Tennesseans always rise to the occasion when our neighbors are in need, and that was the case in this disaster as well. We commend the swift response from first responders, State and local leaders, volunteer organizations and members of the community. Both the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, TEMA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, were also on the ground immediately to begin their work helping those affected and ensuring assistance is on the way.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Cooper and our colleagues from Tennessee for bringing this resolution forward so the House has an opportunity to express its condolences to Tennesseans who are just beginning the recovery process.