69–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–452 

HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BARRINGTON ANTONIO IRVING, 

THE YOUNGEST PILOT AND FIRST PERSON OF AFRICAN DESCENT EVER 

TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE WORLD 

NOVEMBER 15, 2007.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 661] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the resolution (H. Res. 661) honoring the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, the youngest pilot and first 

person of African descent ever to fly solo around the world, having 

considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendment 

and recommend that the resolution as amended be agreed to. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following: 

That the House of Representatives— 

(1) honors the accomplishments of Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot and 

first person of African descent ever to fly solo around the world and founder 

of a nonprofit organization that inspires youth to pursue careers in aviation and 

aerospace; 

(2) encourages young people and minorities to pursue educational opportunities in preparation for careers in aviation and related industries; and 

(3) encourages museums throughout the Nation related to aviation to commemorate the historic achievements of Captain Barrington Irving. 

Amend the preamble to read as follows: 

Whereas Barrington Irving was born in 1983 in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in 

inner-city Miami, Florida; and 

Whereas Irving discovered his passion for aviation at the age of 15 when Captain 

Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline pilot who has since served as his mentor, 

took him to tour the cockpit of a Boeing 777; 

Whereas Irving overcame financial hardship to pursue his dream to become a pilot 

by working miscellaneous jobs and working for private aircraft owners in exchange for flying lessons; 

Whereas Irving was the recipient of a joint Air Force/Florida Memorial University 

Flight Awareness Scholarship to cover college tuition and flying lessons for his 

tireless volunteer efforts and commitment to community service; 

Whereas in 2003, Irving contacted companies including aircraft manufacturer Columbia, which agreed to provide him with a plane to fly around the world if 

he could secure donations and components; 

Whereas over several years, Irving visited aviation trade shows throughout the country and secured more than $300,000 of cash and donated components inVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:28 Nov 18, 2007 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR452.XXX HR452

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cluding the engine, tires, cockpit systems, and seats for a Columbia 400, one 

of the world’s fastest single-engine piston airplanes; 

Whereas in the process of pursuing his dream of an around the world flight, Irving 

founded a nonprofit organization in 2005 to address the significant shortage of 

youth pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace; 

Whereas Irving’s efforts have garnered widespread community support and sponsorship as an effective model to expose young people and underrepresented groups 

to opportunities in aviation; 

Whereas on March 23, 2007, Irving embarked from Miami, Florida, on a 24,600-mile 

flight around the world in an airplane named ‘‘Inspiration’’ at 23-years of age 

while still a senior majoring in aerospace at Florida Memorial University; 

Whereas on June 27, 2007, Irving concluded his flight in Miami, Florida, after stopping in 27 cities throughout the world; and 

Whereas Irving continues to inspire youth and adults alike with his achievements 

and work to increase the accessibility of opportunities in aviation and aerospace: Now, therefore, be it 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

House Resolution 661, as amended, expresses the House of Representatives’ support for the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, a 23-year-old senior majoring in aerospace at Florida 

Memorial University and the youngest pilot and first person of African descent ever to embark on a 24,600-mile solo flight around 

the world. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

H. Res. 661 expresses the House of Representatives’ support for 

the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, the youngest 

pilot and the first person of African descent ever to embark on a 

24,600-mile solo flight around the world. 

Irving was born in 1983 in Kingston, Jamaica, and was raised in 

Miami, Florida. He discovered a passion for aviation at the age of 

15 when Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline pilot, who has 

since served as his mentor, took him to tour the cockpit of a Boeing 

777. 

In 2003, Irving’s passion for aviation propelled him to attend the 

Florida Memorial University where he majored in aerospace. That 

same year, Irving began pursuing a new dream of becoming the 

youngest pilot to fly solo around the world. 

Irving began contacting companies including an aircraft manufacturer, Columbia, which agreed to provide him with a plane to fly 

around the world if he could secure donations and components. 

Over several years, Irving visited aviation trade shows throughout 

the country and secured more than $300,000 in cash and donated 

components including the engine, tires, cockpit systems, and seats 

for a Columbia 400, one of the world’s fastest single-engine piston 

airplanes. 

While fundraising for his flight around the world and earning his 

pilot’s license, Irving overcame other financial hardships by doing 

miscellaneous jobs for private aircraft owners in exchange for flying 

lessons, and by earning a scholarship for his volunteer efforts and 

commitment to community service. 

In 2005, Irving blended his commitment to community service 

and his passion for aviation when he founded a nonprofit organization that addresses the significant shortage of young men and 

women pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. 

In March 2007, at the age of 23, Irving finally realized his 

dream. He took off from Miami, Florida, on a 24,600–mile flight 


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around the world in an airplane named ‘‘Inspiration’’, becoming the 

youngest pilot and the first person of African descent to fly around 

the world. During his flight, Irving stopped in 27 cities before finally landing back in Miami, Florida. 

This resolution honors Irving’s passion for aviation and his commitment to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. This resolution 

also recognizes Irving for his volunteer efforts and commitment to 

community service. It encourages museums throughout the nation 

related to aviation to commemorate the historic achievements of 

Captain Barrington Irving. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

H. Res. 661 honors Irving’s passion for aviation and his commitment to pursue his dream to become a pilot by doing miscellaneous 

jobs, working for private aircraft owners in exchange for flying lessons, and later founding a nonprofit organization to address the 

shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. This 

resolution recognizes Irving for his volunteer efforts and commitment to community service and encourages museums throughout 

the nation related to aviation to commemorate the historic achievements of Captain Barrington Irving. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On September 18, 2007, Representative Alcee L. Hastings introduced H. Res. 661. 

On October 31, 2007, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 661. During 

consideration of the resolution, an amendment in the nature of a 

substitute was adopted that made technical corrections to the resolution. The Committee ordered H. Res. 661, as amended, reported 

favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum present. 

RECORD VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives requires 

each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for 

and against on each record vote on a motion to report and on any 

amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of 

those members voting for and against. There were no recorded 

votes taken in connection with any amendment offered to H. Res. 

661 or on ordering the resolution reported. A motion to order H. 

Res. 661, as amended, reported favorably to the House was agreed 

to by voice vote with a quorum present. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 661 is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force of law. As such, there 

is no cost associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for 

any fiscal year thereafter. 


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COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee advises that the 

resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under current law is required. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance goals and objectives for 

any measure that authorizes funding is required. 

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee advises that the 

resolution contains no measure that authorizes funding. Neither a 

cost estimate nor comparison for any measure that authorizes 

funding is required. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H. Res. 661 does not contain any congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H. Res. 661 is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force of law. As such, 

clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

H. Res. 661 contains no Federal mandates. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H. Res. 661 does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this Resolution. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Res. 661 makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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