National AMT Day Resolution HR

THE AMTA AND MARYANNE DEMARCO APPROACHED CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER'S OFFICE AND ASKED HIM TO INTRODUCE A NATIONAL AMT DAY RESOLUTION. WITH CONGRESSMAN FILNER'S LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, HRES #444, HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY A VOICE VOTE BY THE TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007. THE RESOLUTION IS NOW SLATED TO BE PLACED ON THE HOUSE CALENDAR WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO FOR A VOTE. WHEN THIS DATE IS CHOSEN IT WILL BE POSTED. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTACT THEIR RESPECTIVE CONGRESSMAN AND INFORM THEM THAT HRES #444 WILL BE COMING UP FOR A VOTE AND THAT THEIR SUPPORT IS ENCOURAGED.

On April 30th, 2008 HRES #444 was introduced onto the House Calendar and debated. Afterwards HRES #444 was voted on and passed! After more than 100 years of aviation Charles E. Taylor has a National AMT Day Resolution which honors his place in aviation's history. This resolution also recognizes the knowledge, skill & integrity of all the AMTs that followed in his footsteps.

The men and women who maintain the ever growing fleet of aircraft within the U.S. aviation industry will still remain the "Faces Behind Safety" always raising the standards by which we hold our craft & profession to. On behalf of the AMTA I am happy and honored for all the support that was directed at making this National AMT Day Resolution a reality. This resolution does not belong to the AMTA or other organizations or companies. It belongs to the AMTs who came before us, who are amongst us and who will come after us. If anyone wishes to have a copy of HRES #444 please contact me and I will send you one.

A special note of thanks goes to the 13 Co-Sponsors who originally endorsed the National AMT Day Resolution and all those who took the time to write, call and e-mail their respective Congressmen asking for their support in passing HRES #444. I would also like to thank Richard Dilbeck who introduced and had passed the very first State AMT Day Resolution. If not for the passing of this California AMT day Resolution I would never have created the AMTA. I also wish to thank Maryanne DeMarco for her drive & passion in bringing recognition to today's AMTs and making HRES #444 become a reality.

Maryanne DeMarco, Director of Legislative Affairs for Passenger-Cargo Security Group, and Kenneth MacTiernan, AMTA Director, being presented a copy of Congressional AMT Day Resolution HRES #444 on May 5th, 2008 by Congressman Bob Filner.

On May 18th, 2007 Congressman Bob Filner (D) of California who is a Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, 110th Congress was hand delivered a letter form the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association asking him to re-introduce a United States National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day Resolution. This letter was co-signed by over thirty leaders from across the aviation community.

Present with me was Maryanne DeMarco who helped enlist Congressman Bob Filner's support. It is Maryanne M. DeMarco who drafted the wording for this U.S. National AMT Day Resolution ensuring that the proper respect is given to the men and women across the country's aviation maintenance community as well as honoring Charles E. Taylor, the "Father of Aircraft Maintenance. It was expressed to Congressman Bob Filner that the re-introduction and passing of this resolution holds a lot of importance for those of us in the Aircraft Maintenance field.

Like the 46 State AMT Day Resolutions already passed this U.S. National AMT Day Resolution will recognize May 24th of each year as AMT Day. But whereas the State resolutions recognize their respective Aircraft Maintenance Technicians this U.S. National AMT Day Resolution will recognize all AMTs across the entire country.

After more than 100 years of aviation today's Aircraft Mechanic has been forgotten or, at best, been taken for granted by the public. Why is that? Well, simply put, it is because Aircraft Maintenance Technicians ever since Charles E. Taylor, the Wright Brother's mechanic, have never sought the lime light or notoriety. There are no world famous Aircraft Mechanics. There are simply the men & women who, since mankind first conquered controlled, powered flight, have always been the "Faces Behind Safety" of aviation. These professionals have for more than a century used their knowledge, skill & integrity to provide this country with safe, airworthy aircraft.

Since 1903 the skilled Aircraft Mechanic has continued to keep pace with the technological advances. It is with these advances that today's Aircraft Maintenance Technicians are constantly raising the standards which our craft & profession holds itself to. Be it a military, commercial, corporate, private, civil, general experimental or space craft there is a skilled craftsman who is responsible for making sure that the aircraft within his or her care is safe to fly. This U.S. National AMT Day Resolution will honor the dedication and sacrifices these men and women provide for our country's aviation community.

By having Congressman Bob Filner re-introduce this U.S. National AMT Day Resolution the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association and Maryanne DeMarco have started the long process for bringing our nation's attention and appreciation to a highly skilled work force. But there is more to be done to having this resolution become a reality. And that is where YOU come in.

Congressman Filner's leadership in re-introducing this important resolution will require support. I would like to ask everyone reading this to contact their respective Congressman and Senators. Inform them that you wish for them to contact Congressman Bob Filner's office and have them offer their support by becoming a sponsor for the U.S. National AMT Day Resolution, HRES #444, which the AMTA and Maryanne DeMarco have requested to be re-introduced and eventually signed by the President of the U.S.

Contacting your Congressman and Senator is extremely easy to do. Just go on line to WWW.SENATE.ORG and WWW.HOUSE.GOV. You can then search for your elected official and e-mail them your request for support. You can have your Congressman's and Senator's office contact Sharon Wagener, Congressman Filner's Legislative Director, at sharon.wagener@mail.house.gove or have them contact her directly at (202) 225-8045. E-mailing is the fastest way to contact your Congressman and Senator. You can also write or call. When calling ask to speak with a Staff Member and request their support for HRES #444. But don't stop there. Inform your family and friends to help support the passing of this U.S. National AMT Day Resolution by having them contact their Congressman and Senators too.

The Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association and Maryanne DeMarco thank you for any assistance that you can lend in having the U. S. become the first country to pass a National Resolution that recognizes Charles E. Taylor, our country's first Aircraft Mechanic and aviation's original "Unsung Hero" and all the men and women who have followed in his footsteps. After all, the U.S. was the first country in powered, controlled flight, we should be the first country to honor the skilled professionals who allow us to take their responsibilities for granted. After more than 100 years of aviation history it is long overdue!