Political Quotes

“I was disappointed last week to read about some criticizing the general aviation community as a ``special interest group'' that was trying to stand in the way of progress and modernization. We are for modernization, as modernization has already taken off, and we have been partners from the very beginning. The fact of the matter is that GA is not some special interest group. We are family, friends, and neighbors. There are doctors, teachers, community leaders, and, most importantly, small businessmen that rely on general aviation to create jobs. They are just like, in fact, my son, Ryan, who is with us today, who absolutely loves aviation and wants to be a pilot when he grows up. And that is because he has been exposed to general aviation. General aviation is an important part of our community and our economy. It employs 1.2 million people and adds $219 billion, Mr. Speaker, of economic output. So I ask my colleagues to side with general aviation on any bill that comes to the floor, like the one that came out of the Transportation Committee, and vote against such measures. Moving a system where everyone is treated equally to a system where one user benefits over another is a bad idea and one that we should reject as anathema to American exceptionalism. ____________________”