The Legislative Day events are a CAP tradition. They allow the commanders of CAP’s 52 state organizations, or “wings,” to discuss with lawmakers those issues important to the 60,000-member organization. Of particular interest this year is the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act (H.R. 732 and S 693), which CAP hopes will be expanded to provide benefits to CAP members in the line of duty.           

CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Dwight Wheless, will join the CAP National Board in welcoming lawmakers and their staff to the annual CAP Congressional reception March 2 at the Rayburn Office Building.            

The reception will feature a display of CAP’s newest aerial imaging technology, a custom-designed hyperspectral imaging system. CAP is putting this system into place throughout the country, making it the nation’s first large-scale operational system of its kind for civilian use. Representatives from the CAP Advanced Technologies Group will be on hand to show lawmakers how CAP plans to use the sophisticated aerial imaging system for homeland security, search and rescue, and disaster relief.            

Among those expected to attend the reception are: Senators Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Harry Reid of Nevada, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii; some 30 members of the House of Representatives; Undersecretary Michael Brown, Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response; Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbaucher Jr. of NOAA; Dr. John Kershenstein of the Naval Research Laboratory; and representatives from various aerospace and aviation agencies and corporations.           

On March 3, National Board members will visit their state lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They will deliver copies of the CAP 2004 Annual Report to Congress and discuss pending legislation in their respective states.

Simultaneously during the week, CAP will host the annual Civic Leadership Academy, a national educational activity for CAP cadets that focuses on civic responsibility and careers in public service. Some of the cadets will join their wing commanders for meetings with lawmakers on Thursday. They will also visit the Pentagon as guests of Maj. Gen. Robert Bishop, USAF, and meet with Dr. Lester Crawford, acting commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration, to discuss the challenges of leading a complex public agency.

On March 4 and 5, the National Board will convene for its Winter Board session, during which CAP business and national policy will be discussed. Meetings will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington, D.C. Included in the agenda will be a professional development seminar for board members conducted by Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, Director of Strategic Security for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington. Gen. Burg is responsible for policy, guidance, expertise and oversight to the Air Force nuclear, space, force protection and homeland defense programs.

CAP’s week in Washington will end with a formal dinner hosted by the Spaatz Association, made up of CAP members who have reached the highest possible level in the CAP Cadet Program. Among those attending will be current and former Spaatz cadets, including Brig. Gen. Ted Bowlds, USAF, who leads an Air Force center responsible for developing new air and space technologies.             

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with almost 60,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 25,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.