III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 623 

Recognizing the vital role the Civil Air Patrol has played, and continues 

to play, in supporting the homeland security and national defense of 

the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. TESTER, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. TOOMEY, 

Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. KIRK, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. 

INHOFE, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. COONS, Mr. HATCH, Mr. 

PETERS, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. NELSON, Mr. THUNE, Mr. MENENDEZ, 

Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. CARPER, Ms. AYOTTE, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CRAPO, 

Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. COTTON, Mr. UDALL, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. CASEY, Mrs. 

CAPITO, Mr. KING, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. BENNET, Mr. 

FRANKEN, Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. PERDUE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the vital role the Civil Air Patrol has played, 

and continues to play, in supporting the homeland security and national defense of the United States. 

Whereas, on December 1, 1941, a new civilian defense organization known as the Civil Air Patrol was founded, 

which was to rely on volunteer civilian aviators who 

would fly in support of the homeland security of the 

United States; 


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•SRES 623 ATS 

Whereas with the attack on Pearl Harbor 6 days later and 

the entry of the United States into World War II, the 

Civil Air Patrol would find itself serving the United 

States in ways that were not imagined at the time of the 

conception of the Civil Air Patrol; 

Whereas the Civil Air Patrol initially engaged in coastal patrol operations that were considered critical to the United 

States war effort, piloting aircraft that in total flew 

24,000,000 miles over 18 months, reporting 173 possible 

enemy submarines, and dropping 82 bombs or depth 

charges; 

Whereas Civil Air Patrol civilian volunteers flew privately 

owned light aircraft armed with military bombs at the expense of the volunteers, often at low altitude, in bad 

weather, and up to 60 miles from shore; 

Whereas Civil Air Patrol civilian volunteers undertook other 

vital World War II missions nationwide, which included 

border patrols, search and rescue operations, courier and 

cargo services, and air defense and pilot training; 

Whereas, unlike many organizations at the time, the Civil Air 

Patrol welcomed women into its ranks to fly for the Civil 

Air Patrol, with approximately one-half of the women 

later joining the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (commonly known as ‘‘WASP’’) after having first flown with 

the Civil Air Patrol; 

Whereas the Civil Air Patrol was open to all pilots interested 

in flying for the Civil Air Patrol, which allowed AfricanAmericans an opportunity to serve and fly for the United 

States well before the adoption of the integrated Armed 

Forces; 


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•SRES 623 ATS 

Whereas, in 2016, the Civil Air Patrol continues its critical 

mission in service to the United States, now as a vital 

partner for the Air Force, serving as the auxiliary force, 

and, since 2015, as an official component of the total 

force; 

Whereas the Civil Air Patrol remains one of the premier inland search and rescue organizations of the United 

States, and was credited with saving the lives of 69 individuals through search and rescue operations in 2015; 

Whereas the Civil Air Patrol continues to fulfill many other 

vital missions, including helping train interceptor pilots 

and unmanned aerial vehicle operators under realistic 

conditions, aerial observation missions, counterdrug operations, disaster relief support, live organ transport, aerospace education, cadet programs, and Reserve Officer 

Training Corps orientation flights; 

Whereas the continued work of the all-volunteer force of the 

Civil Air Patrol offers vital support to homeland security 

and defense missions; and 

Whereas the weekly youth and aerospace education programs 

of the Civil Air Patrol continue to introduce young students to the field of aviation and instill within the students the values of national service and personal responsibility: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) applauds the Civil Air Patrol for 75 years 

3 of continuous service in times of peace and war; 

4 (2) recognizes the critical emergency services, 

5 training support, and mission capabilities that the 

6 Civil Air Patrol offers State and national homeland 


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•SRES 623 ATS 

1 security agencies as well as the United States Armed 

2 Forces; and 

3 (3) commends the more than 23,500 youth and 

4 32,500 adult volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol, who 

5 hail from a range of professions and across the 

6 United States, and dedicate their time to the service 

7 of their communities and the United States. 

Æ 


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