Volume 161, No. 39 covering the 1st Session of the 114th Congress (2015 - 2016) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RECOGNIZING SKYRUNNER” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S1335 on March 9, 2015.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING SKYRUNNER
Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, American small businesses are cultivating the Nation's brightest minds to innovate with ingenuity. Technological advancement is a crucial element in fostering economic growth, increasing educational opportunities, and retaining high-
skilled, technical jobs. Its importance cannot be understated. This week, I am honored to recognize a small business that highlights this exciting aspect of today's economy. Congratulations to this week's Small Business of the Week, Skyrunner, located in Shreveport, LA.
Stewart Hamel and Gilo Cardozo created the Skyrunner in order to reinvent recreational sports vehicles--an all-terrain buggy that also flies. Located in Northwest Louisiana, Skyrunner has combined a recreational off-road vehicle with paragliding equipment that allows the driver to use the machine in either of its two modes: car and flight. When in car mode, the vehicle boasts a rugged, dependable frame ideal for demanding terrains. The flight mode deploys the latest in reflex paragliding technology, allowing the vehicle to float back down to the ground upon entering the air. The vehicle's top speed reaches 115 miles per hour and can accelerate to 62 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds, which can launch the vehicle into the air with minimal effort.
The Skyrunner is more than just a recreational vehicle. With its minimum weight and outstanding performance, the Skyrunner has the potential to be incorporated as a valuable tool for various Federal agencies, local and State governments, and adventure enthusiasts alike. CEO Stewart Hamel of Shreveport believes his spin on the all-terrain vehicle will revolutionize the way we manage natural resources, protect Federal lands, aid in natural disasters, and adventure into the wilderness.
When moving its headquarters to Louisiana from the United Kingdom, Skyrunner struggled to get a unique military application approved to import products because a bureaucrat at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was blocking the application. Fortunately, I was able to advocate on Skyrunner's behalf to move past bureaucratic red tape, which allowed the company to begin pre-production of their product in Shreveport, LA. With a handful of prototypes under their belt, Skyrunner begins mass production of their aerodynamic dune-buggy within the next few months.
It is important that we cut through government regulations to allow our small businesses to act on innovative ideas and develop their products, market base, and workforce. By supporting these local small businesses, we can bring new technology, jobs, and state-of-the-art equipment to the areas that need it most. Congratulations again to Skyrunner for being selected as Small Business of the Week. I wish you all the best in your endeavor and thank you for bringing innovative technology to Northwest Louisiana.
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