Joe Cunningham: “I reluctantly oppose the gentleman from Georgia's amendment. Let me tell Members why. I am not asking to let Storm…”

“I reluctantly oppose the gentleman from Georgia's amendment. Let me tell Members why. I am not asking to let Storm Thurmond fly, but in my experience, I can name a dozen people that are flying in air shows right now at that age that are pulling minus 5 G's and positive 9 G's every day. And we go through a rigorous examination, an annual physical. They even check for drug and alcohol, for eye, for heart, for sonograms, and that picks out what it is. If my colleagues ask me, with my experience, what flying requires, if I am going to fly with a young pilot or an experienced pilot, I am going to take the experienced pilot because in the long run that is going to be safe. Mr. Chairman, I do not believe, and I know Members have good intentions on this amendment, that age 60 should limit someone. When we talk about it is a wasted study, when we are talking about taking someone's livelihood, that is not proportionate to the safety exercised. I believe that is wrong and I oppose the amendment.”