Commending Russ Meyer on his induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

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.

I will be glad to yield to the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Dicks).

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.

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.

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.

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 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. Speaker, we have no further speakers on our side.

I reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time. I urge passage of this legislation.

I yield back the balance of our time

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. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our colleague from Kansas, Representative Todd Tiahrt.

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.

Will the gentleman yield?

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.