H.Res. 445 is being considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) on May 14, 2009.
H.Res. 445 resolves that the House of Representatives "recognizes 100 years of military aviation and expresses its continued support for military aviators of the United States Armed Forces."
According to the resolution's findings, the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution will commemorate the centennial of military aviation with programs and exhibits throughout 2009. Orville and Wilbur Wright secured the patent for their powered airplane in 1908, allowing them to compete for contracts with the Army. The U.S. Army Signal Corps made its first purchase of an airplane, the Wright Military Flyer, in 1909 at a cost of $30,000. The importance of military aviation and air superiority in battle was first demonstrated in World War I. During World War II, United States Naval aviation was decisive in winning the war in the Pacific. Military aircraft remains an essential component in the safety and security of the United States homeland.
