On the recordSeptember 15, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I want to voice my support for House Resolution 1473, supporting recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips on America's public lands. This resolution is the fruit of a bipartisan effort. I could not have drafted this legislation without the support of my colleagues from Idaho, Mr. Simpson and Mr. Minnick, and the co-chairs of the House General Aviation Caucus, Mr. Ehlers and Mr. Boyd. One hundred years ago, this resolution might have been about supporting horses. Aviation has become as important to the modern West as horses were to the early explorers, trappers and prospectors. That is because the vast majority of Montana's 147,000 square miles aren't easily reached by roads--we've got a lot of dirt between light bulbs. And like the horse opened new lands in 1910, aviation is critical to access today. That is why backcountry airstrips are such an important part of our way of life. There are too many benefits to list them all. They enable search and rescue, fire management, research, disaster relief and wildlife management. In the event of mechanical problems or inclement weather, they serve as emergency landing sites when larger airports are out of reach. They allow public access to some of the most beautiful, remote Federal lands in America, regardless of one's physical ability, and they serve as efficient access points for tourists, who in turn contribute to local economies and small businesses. That means jobs.
