Thomas E. Petri: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1848, the Small Airplane…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1848, the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013. I'd like to commend my colleague, Congressman Mike Pompeo, for introducing this bill, along with Congressmen Dan Lipinski, Sam Graves, Richard Nolan, and Todd Rokita. I will insert into the Record a letter of support for H.R. 1848 from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association, as well as a separate letter of support from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Mr. Speaker, we're considering H.R. 1848 today because general aviation is vital to our country. The general aviation industry includes nearly 600,000 pilots, employs 1.3 million people, and contributes approximately $150 billion annually to the U.S. economy. In fact, the general aviation industry is one of the few remaining U.S. manufacturing industries that provide a trade surplus for the U.S., and it has a presence in every one of our 435 Congressional districts. However, over the last several decades, the general aviation industry has experienced unique challenges, including a steady decline in new pilots, flight activity, and the sale of new aircraft.…”