Tom Petri

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to our hardworking colleague from the greater Houston area in the State of Texas, Representative Peter Olson.

Mr. PETRI. I have no further requests for time. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 138, recognizing the 40th anniversary of the George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. George H.W. Bush Intercontinental, as has been pointed out, is the eighth largest airport in these United States and served over 43 million passengers in 2008 alone. The airport offers flights to over 32 countries and is the world leader in air cargo processing, consolidation, and distribution. George H.W. Bush Intercontinental is vital to the economic stability of the greater Houston area. The airport contributes almost $24 billion in direct benefits to the region and supports more than 151,000 jobs. The airport is a valuable part of our national airspace system and is very important to the greater Houston area. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI

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

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2651, the Maritime Workforce Development Act. The bill will provide needed training and educational opportunities for merchant mariners and those interested in working in the maritime trades. The U.S. Merchant Marine is an important component to our national and economic security, and I support this effort to strengthen this important sector of our workforce. The bill directs the Maritime Administration to establish a program to support continuing education at approved maritime training institutes and undergraduate training at the five State maritime academies. Loan recipients would be required to commit at least 18 months of service at sea as a condition of participation in the program. This program will improve the opportunities available to those currently serving as merchant mariners and attract new entrants to the maritime workforce. The bill also directs the Maritime Administration to develop a strategic plan to enhance merchant mariner recruitment, training, and retention, and to fund demonstration projects to further the goals outlined in the plan. This measure is an important component of the House's ongoing work to support the U.S. Merchant Marine. I strongly support the bill and ask all Members to do the same. At this point, I would yield 5 minutes to our colleague from North Carolina, Virginia Foxx.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking member of the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, my colleague, John Mica, from Florida.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to an original coauthor of the bill who is before us who has been heavily involved in the deliberations on the bill from its inception, our colleague from New York, Representative Chris Lee.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the former chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, my colleague from Tennessee, John Duncan.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act. Safety is the highest priority of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as we've heard from our subcommittee chairman. Even the most well-funded, technologically advanced transportation system is worth less if it cannot move its users from point to point in the safest possible manner. Although the U.S. airline industry's safety record is the envy of the world, recent events offer proof that this safety legislation is needed. Since 2003, there have been six fatal commercial air carrier accidents. Every one of those six involved regional airlines. In four of the six accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board cited pilot performance as a potential factor. The most recent accident of Colgan Flight 3407 was again a stark reminder that we must remain ever vigilant in our pursuit of aviation safety. In response to these accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board has made several recommendations related to pilot training, pilot fatigue, the availability of pilot records, and voluntary safety reporting programs. The bill before us is an important step toward improving safety by implementing the NTSB pilot training requirements To address what FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has identified as a lapse in professionalism on the flight deck, the bill directs the FAA to conduct a rulemaking to improve flight crew member mentoring, professional development, and leadership. This bipartisan legislation contains several provisions that will help mitigate the dangers associated with pilot fatigue. H.R. 3371 directs the FAA administrator to update and issue new pilot flight and duty time requirements. It also requires the Federal Aviation Administration to coordinate with the National Academy of Sciences in order to conduct a joint study on the effects of pilot commuting. The bill mandates that all commercial air carriers submit a fatigue risk management plan to the FAA within 90 days of enactment. Pilot fatigue poses a significant risk to air transportation, and I am glad this bill takes measures to eliminate its dangerous consequences. H.R. 3371 will improve access to pilot records by creating a secure, consolidated FAA-managed database. The database will contain all Part 121 pilots' performance, training, and testing records, and it will enable air carriers to gain a more accurate and complete perspective when making hiring decisions. All commercial carriers will be required to access this database and prescreen an applicant's comprehensive record before making a final decision on hiring. These are just a few of the provisions included in this important legislation. I would like to express my appreciation for the open, bipartisan manner in which this bill was put together. This collective effort demonstrates that aviation safety is, as it always should be, a nonpartisan issue. I also want to thank the families of Continental Flight 3407. Their efforts to improve regional airline safety have been most helpful as we drafted the bill before us. In the other body, the Commerce Committee has included several provisions in its mark of the FAA reauthorization bill that address some of the same issues in the bill before us today. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to complete consideration of their reauthorization package so that we may conference these bills together before the end of this year. These issues are too important to leave to languish due to inaction. While some have concerns about certain provisions of the bill, I support moving the bill forward and addressing those concerns during the House and Senate conference. Again, I thank the chairman, as well as my colleagues, for their work on this important bill, and our subcommittee chairman, Representative Costello from Illinois. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. I yield such time as he may consume to my chairman, Mr. Costello.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 167, a measure to express the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the goals and ideals of Campus Fire Safety Month. I would like to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), for working together to introduce this important resolution. As we continue to see the effects of the California wildfires on the news, we are reminded that fires can strike anywhere, at anytime, and that includes on a college campus. September has been designated as Campus Fire Safety Month in an effort to remind college campuses and their communities about the dangers of fires on campus. This month reminds campuses that they need to check their fire sprinkler systems, their fire alarm and notification systems, and train students and staff in what to do in case of a fire on campus. There have been a number of fire tragedies, some fatal, on college campuses in the past. It is for that reason that Congress regularly recognizes Campus Fire Safety Month. We also included a provision in the Higher Education Opportunity Act to ask colleges and universities to report annually on fire safety efforts. The report would include information such as a list of all student housing facilities and whether or not each is equipped with a sprinkler system or other fire safety system, statistics on occurrences of fires and the injuries that occurred as a result of the fires, information on various fire safety rules and regulations, and information about training provided to students, faculty, and staff. Our Nation's college students should be able to live on campus with the confidence that they will be safe in their dorms, apartments, or other housing. This measure will take a key step toward ensuring greater awareness of this issue. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to our colleague from Nashville, Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn.

Mr. PETRI. I have no additional speakers, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. I do.

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 650, recognizing that country music has made a tremendous contribution to American life and culture and declaring country music to be a uniquely American art form. The creation of country music can be isolated to the United States. Its origins are rooted in the multitude of ethnicities found in the people of our country. The traditional music of the British Isles mingled with the music of African slaves and several other immigrant groups to create the unique sound that is country music. The new music first became popular nationally in the 1920s and was then called ``hillbilly music.'' The first country song was broadcast on the radio in 1922. Since that time, numerous subgenres have developed within country music. Bluegrass, honky-tonk, country pop, and gospel are just four examples of genres that have developed within country music. Today more than 10 subgenres of country music exist. Since country music first became popular in the 1920s, it has continued to increase in popularity. In the 1930s and 1940s, it made its debut in Hollywood movies and became even more popular. In the 1950s and 1960s, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash topped the charts with their own brands of the music. The 1970s and 1980s saw Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton become music icons for their roles in the popularization of country music. Today, country music has its own television channel, a multitude of radio stations dedicated to it in every section of the country, and its own system of awards. The popularity of country music has spread beyond the United States in recent years. Canada and Australia have grown increasingly fond of the music. But country music will always be recognized as a uniquely American art form. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from Florida, Cliff Stearns. (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of the resolution before us, House Resolution 741, expressing support for the designation of this Thursday, October 8, 2009, as ``Read for the Record Day.'' Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community volunteers to work with preschool children in low-income communities. These volunteers help young children to develop language, literacy and social skills. Since 1993, Jumpstart has engaged nearly 21,000 adults to serve almost 80,000 young children. On Thursday, October 8, Jumpstart is working with its partners, including the Pearson Foundation, Walmart Stores, Inc., American Eagle Outfitters, Sodexo, Penguin Young Readers Group, Chase, and the American Association of Retired Persons, to continue its annual campaign to attempt to organize the world's largest shared reading experience. In 2006, the international campaign was created to bring preschool children together with valued grownups to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. In 2008, a world record was set as nearly 700,000 readers shared the classic children's tale, Corduroy. The goals of the campaign are to raise national awareness about the importance of early education. Jumpstart is working to provide books to children in low-income households through donations, book purchases and sponsorship in order to prepare more children for school success. On ``Read for the Record Day'' in 2009, the hope is to engage more than 1 million children to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and set a new world record for the world's largest shared reading experience on the same day. Thursday, October 8, can be a celebration of reading, service, and fun in support of the Nation's preschoolers. I stand in support of designating October 8 as ``Read for the Record Day'' in order to encourage grandparents, parents, teachers, and students to come together with children of all ages to create the world's largest shared reading experience to show their support for early literacy. I ask my colleagues' support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of the resolution before us, House Resolution 707, expressing support for the designation of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. According to a June 2008 report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, among the 30 OECD free-market countries, the U.S. is the only Nation where young adults are less educated than the previous generation. In the current U.S. labor force, more and more workers are required to have at least some postsecondary education or occupational training. By one set of measures, more than 88 million adults have at least one major educational barrier: no high school diploma, no college degree or English-as-a-second-language needs. Because of these educational barriers, a number of working-age adults may fall behind in their efforts to get higher-wage jobs or to qualify for the college courses or job training that will help them advance in their current jobs. Studies also show that two important factors that influence student achievement are a mother's education level and poverty in the home. Parents in family literacy programs may become more involved in their children's education and gain the tools necessary to obtain a job or find better employment. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports that 90 million adults lack the literacy, numeracy or English language skills to succeed at home, in the workplace and in society. By designating an Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, we can encourage people across the United States to support programs to assist those in need of adult education and family literacy programs. I stand in support of designating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week in order to raise public awareness about the importance of adult education and of family literacy. I ask for my colleagues' support. I yield such time as she may consume to my colleague from Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn.

Mr. PETRI. I have no additional speakers and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI

Mr. PETRI. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the ranking Republican on the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).