Honoring Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 for their heroism, calm under pressure, and dedication to the safety of passengers on board.

Whereas on January 15, 2009, Chesley B. Sully Sullenberger III piloted US Airways Flight 1549, destined for Charlotte, North Carolina, from New York’s LaGuardia Airport;

Whereas 155 people were on board Flight 1549;

Whereas the plane experienced difficulty within minutes of takeoff;

Whereas Mr. Sullenberger’s quick thinking and heroic actions allowed him to set down the plane in the Hudson River, saving the lives of everyone on board and avoiding any casualties on the ground in the densely-populated New York metropolitan area;

Whereas after ditching in the Hudson River and assisting all passengers in evacuating the aircraft, Mr. Sullenberger walked the length of the plane twice to ensure that all passengers had safely exited;

Whereas Mr. Sullenberger has close to 40 years of flying experience, including 7 years in the United States Air Force and nearly 30 years with US Airways;

Whereas Mr. Sullenberger is committed to flight safety and has worked as a safety instructor for his airline; in addition, he developed safety guidelines for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and

Whereas thanks to the heroism, grace, calmness, determination, and dedication honored by Mr. Sullenberger and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549, 155 lives were saved and many more were spared: Now, therefore, be it