Congressman Buck McKeon is Honored With AIA’s 2012 Wings of Liberty Award
AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey and AIA Chairman David Hess presented Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) with the Wings of Liberty Award on September 19 at the Library of Congress. The Wings of Liberty Award is presented each year to a member of Congress who has made significant contributions to help bolster aerospace and national defense.
Rep. McKeon’s continued support of the industry and efforts to reverse sequestration earned him the highest and most prestigious award the aerospace and defense industry has to offer.
In his acceptance speech, Rep. McKeon commended AIA on being the first group to set up and battle the automatic defense cuts our military is facing. He encouraged all reception attendees to take similar action and do their part in the fight against sequestration. “Now is not the time for your voice to fall silent. Congress leaves town this week and sequestration will be part of the lame-duck deal making this winter,” said McKeon. “Members of both parties are going to have to weigh the consequences of their votes closely.”
McKeon added that while flattered to accept the award, “I don’t think any of us have earned it yet. Men and women across this country –in uniform and out of uniform– need us to stay in this fight. Members in their districts need to hear from you. They need to understand what these cuts will do to our security and our economy. When they have, and we come back to town in November, I hope we’ll be able to say that we’ve earned this award.”
AIA Source: ashley.gudzak[at]aia-aerospace.org
