Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to take this opportunity to introduce legislation permitting aliens who possess permanent residency visas to register aircraft in the United States. The Federal Aviation Act currently restricts the ability to register aircraft to persons who are citizens of the United States. The United States is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil AviationICAO. Among other objectives. that convention seeks to foster the growth and vitality of civil aviation and to encourage the highest possible level of maintenance for civil aircraft and related equipment. Current FAA law achieves part of this objective with reference to aliens holding permanent residency visas for the United States by permitting the FAA Administrator to issue pilots license certificates to resident alienssection 602. 49 U.S.C. 1422. Thus. the human aspect is taken care of. but. what about the equipment and the craft? Because the Administrator cannot register the aircraft of aliens. these craft are not subject to the high standards and requirements for airworthiness and quality of the United States. Further. because these aircraft must meet the airworthiness requirements of the foreign state of registration. it is extremely difficult if not impossible for an alien to contract with qualified American mechanics and repair stations. The U.S. aircraft and maintenance industry loses business and we risk letting nonairworthy aircraft and equipment continue to legally operate. Most aliens possessing permanent residency visas are skilled and professional persons who will eventually become full. responsible citizen of the United States. These civil pilots already can be brought under the exacting standards of U.S. pilot license qualification. This is desirable and beneficial. Such law should be balanced by bringing the aircraft and related equipment of such individuals under similar standards. The legislation I am introducing seeks to do just that. It would make uniform and comprehensive our laws regarding alien civil aviators who possess permanent residency visas. I include at this point a copy of the text of my bill for the convenience of my colleagues:
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that most aliens possessing permanent residency visas are skilled and professional persons who will eventually become full, responsible citizens of the United States.