A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that general aviation pilots and industry should be recognized for the contributions made in response to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 61) expressing the sense of the Congress that general aviation pilots and industry should be recognized for the contributions made in response to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material as necessary on S. Con. Res. 61.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 61, a resolution which recognizes the many contributions of private pilots and the general aviation industry to the Haiti earthquake relief efforts and encourages the continued generosity of general aviation pilots and operators in ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.

On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, leaving up to 300,000 dead and 300,000 injured. Private pilots and businesses banded together to conduct an estimated 4,500 relief flights during the 30-day period following the earthquake. Business aircraft transported approximately 3,500 passengers and delivered over 1 million pounds of cargo and supplies to the Haitian people.

General aviation aircraft were vital for getting help to smaller communities that otherwise faced great difficulty in receiving aid. Media accounts described pilots ferrying supplies between nearby countries, like the Dominican Republic, to small towns in Haiti. They would often land on not much more than dirt roads. General aviation aircraft transported

critical supplies like food, blankets, medication, and medical equipment as well. The fuel from these aircraft was even used in some cases to help generators continue running. The aircraft carried medical staff and relief personnel from the United States to Haiti to assist in relief efforts, including a group that came from my hometown of Memphis, from LeBonheur Children's Hospital. They spent quite a bit of time down there.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. Con. Res. 61.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, before we close, I want to take an opportunity, because I don't know if I will have the opportunity on the floor to do it. Mr. Ehlers is retiring during this Congress. When I was a freshman in 2006, he was the head of the Committee on House Administration that helped welcome all the freshmen and get us oriented to Congress, and he was one of the first influences on my experience in Congress. It was an excellent one. You are a gentleman. It's been an honor serving with you, and I thank you for your contributions to the Class of 2006. I wish you Godspeed.

I would like to ask that all of our Members join in supporting S. Con. Res. 61. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, S. Con. Res. 61, which recognizes the many contributions of the private pilots and the general aviation industry to the Haiti earthquake relief efforts and encourages the continued generosity of general aviation pilots and operators in ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.

On January 12, 2010, the Republic of Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, leaving up to an estimated 300,000 dead and 300,000 injured. It is also estimated that more than 4,500 relief flights were conducted by general aviation aircraft during the 30-day period following the earthquake. Business aircraft transported approximately 3,500 passengers and delivered more than one million pounds of cargo and supplies to the Haitian people. All of this was accomplished through the generosity of individual pilots and aircraft owners.

General aviation aircraft were vital for getting help to smaller communities that were impacted in the Haitian countryside. Light planes landed on shorter airstrips and distributed urgently-needed supplies to medical professionals and people on the ground, bypassing the congested Port-au-Prince airport.

General aviation aircraft and pilots assisted in delivering supplies, including water purification kits, tarps, medical supplies, blankets, and towels. Medical staff and relief personnel were also transported on these aircraft from the United States to Haiti to conduct relief work. Companies, business aviation and private pilots, nongovernmental relief organizations, aviation groups, and others banded together in the earthquake's aftermath to assist in the Haiti relief effort.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. Con. Res. 61.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, Expressing the sense of the Congress that general aviation pilots and industry should be recognized for the contributions made in response to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced a disastrous earthquake that overwhelmed its disaster relief capabilities. The world responded.

In addition to relief offered by governments from around the world, individual general aviation pilots did what they could to support the relief effort.

To help meet the desperate need for supplies to help those displaced by the earthquake, general aviation pilots made over 4,500 relief flights within the first thirty days after the disaster.

Some 3,500 passengers and 1 million pounds of cargo were transported by large general aviation aircraft, and general aviation pilots in smaller aircraft were able to serve areas that larger aircraft could not access, delivering critical medical personnel and supplies.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the magnanimous efforts of the general aviation community in the response to this terrible disaster. The extraordinary efforts of these general aviation pilots and the general aviation community saved countless lives and helped to ease the suffering of those in need.

The Senate adopted this resolution by unanimous consent on April 29, 2010. On this, the 4-month anniversary of the earthquake, I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution recognizing the efforts of those who came to the aid of the people of Haiti.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I said much of what I could say on this particular resolution when I discussed the previous one, and noted that it is important to recognize that general aviation is very, very important to our Nation. It serves so many people so well. I will not bother to repeat all the points I made earlier, but I simply want to say that I think this is an excellent resolution, and I hope that everyone in this Chamber will vote for it and that it will go into effect.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 61 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.