July 21, 2010
Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H. Con. Res. 292
Mr./Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
No matter how many times you fly, however many hours a week you spend on airplanes, even as a Member of Congress, there is still something magical about the first moments of take-off, when acceleration gives way to a sudden lift, and you soar up into the clouds.
Behind that moment of wonder lies over a century of hard work, long hours, and sacrifice spent uncovering the secrets of aerodynamics and mastering the engineering of heavier-than-air flight. It should be a point of great pride that the United States was a leader in making aviation a reality. In recognizing National Aerospace Week, we honor a national history of achievement in both aeronautics and space.
America’s achievements in aerospace inspire awe and admiration the world over. From the very first heavier-than-air flight in 1903 to the Moon landing of 1969, America has led the way in aerospace.
Today we continue to move forward by sending robotic probes to the far reaches of the solar systems, sending observatories into space to probe the origin of the universe, leading the international team that constructed the International Space Station, the first permanent human habitation in space, and making America’s aviation system second-to-none in the world..
American superiority in aerospace is part of the foundation on which our security rests. Satellites provide our troops in distant lands with everything from vital intelligence about local weather and terrain to updates on NBA finals. Unmanned aerial vehicles and communications, and satellite-based navigation and positioning systems are essential tools that members of the Armed Forces rely on to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Space-derived systems like GPS and weather satellites have become integral to civil society as well. They provide us not only with entertainment and travel directions, but also with critical safety information on natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. Increasingly in the modern world, the ties that bind us together as a society are in fact electromagnetic signals to and from satellites in orbit- satellites designed, assembled, and launched by the American aerospace industry.
The aerospace industry employs many hundreds of thousands Americans, and is one of the most vibrant and innovative sectors of our economy. Industry sales are estimated to reach $215 billion in 2010. Especially in these troubled economic times, the aerospace industry is a beacon of American entrepreneurship and ingenuity.
Positions in the aerospace sector are the kind of high-paying, high-quality jobs that are in demand across the nation. And the highly skilled workforce that fills them is itself a national treasure.
In addition to the 831,000 Americans who work in the aerospace industry, an additional 11 million work in the field of commercial aviation. The United States already operates the largest and safest aviation system in the world. The imminent introduction of NextGen air traffic management system will take civil aviation to new heights.
For its contributions to science and engineering, to our national security and economy, as well as to the general well-being and progress of humankind, the aerospace industry deserves recognition. With this resolution, we take a moment to remember the glories of the past, and to anticipate the wonders of the future.
I want to thank the sponsor of this resolution, Dr. Vern Ehlers for his long support of our Nation’s aerospace industry, and for his support for science and technology generally during his tenure in Congress.
I reserve the balance of my time.
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