Committee hears museum testimony on 1905 Wright Flyer III; favorably reports four Senate bills to Rules and Reference

A museum representative told the Government Oversight and Reform Committee that the 1905 Wright Flyer III is a “national treasure” and urged the panel to support its designation as the state plane of Ohio.

The testimony came during the committee’s hearing before Vice Chair Brenner moved to favorably report Senate Bill 24 to the Committee on Rules and Reference. The committee then voted to send Senate Bills 24, 14, 6 and 21 to Rules and Reference by roll call.

The museum representative, identified in the record as a representative of the Wright Brothers National Museum at Carillon Historical Park, said the 1905 Wright Flyer III is exhibited at the museum and noted several formal recognitions: the aircraft was the first airplane designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1990; it was featured on the Ohio quarter unveiled in February 2002; and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated it a historic mechanical engineering landmark in February 2003. “Designation as the state plane of Ohio would be a fitting addition to the 1905 Wright Flyer III’s list of recognitions and tributes — something everyone in Ohio should be proud of,” the museum representative said.

A senator who said he had lived in the Dayton area and been stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base described the Wright Flyer and Carillon Historical Park as “an absolute treasure” and thanked the museum representative for testifying.

After the testimony, Vice Chair Brenner moved to report Senate Bill 24 favorably to the Committee on Rules and Reference. The clerk called the roll; the record shows affirmative votes from Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Senator Johnson, Senator Landis, Senator O’Brien, Ranking Member Weinstein and Senator DeMauro. The motion was announced as having sufficient votes and was carried to Rules and Reference, with the roll remaining open at the discretion of the chair.

The committee proceeded to take identical action on three additional bills. Vice Chair Brenner moved to favorably report Senate Bill 14; the clerk recorded affirmative votes from Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Senator Johnson, Senator Landis, Senator O’Brien and (record) the ranking member. The committee then moved to favorably report Senate Bill 6; the roll call for that motion recorded affirmative votes including Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Senator Dodson, Senator Landis, Senator O’Brien, Ranking Member Weinstein and Senator DeMauro. Finally, the committee moved to favorably report Senate Bill 21; the roll call recorded affirmative votes from Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Senator Johnson, Senator Landis, Senator Eberwein, Ranking Member Weinstein and Senator DeMauro. For each motion the committee stated the roll would remain open until the chair’s discretion and announced that each bill was favorably reported to Rules and Reference.

No written or oral opposition testimony was recorded on the bills for which the committee took votes; the clerk noted written-only proponent testimony for at least one item that members were asked to consult on their devices. The record does not provide bill summaries, legislative text details, or the sponsors’ full legislative intent for any bill beyond the committee actions recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 24 — Motion: favorably report to Committee on Rules and Reference. Moved by Vice Chair Brenner. Roll-call affirmative votes recorded: Chair Manchester; Vice Chair Brenner; Senator Johnson; Senator Landis; Senator O’Brien; Ranking Member Weinstein; Senator DeMauro. Outcome: favorably reported to Rules and Reference; roll to remain open at chair's discretion.

- Senate Bill 14 — Motion: favorably report to Committee on Rules and Reference. Moved by Vice Chair Brenner. Roll-call affirmative votes recorded: Chair Manchester; Vice Chair Brenner; Senator Johnson; Senator Landis; Senator O’Brien; ranking member (record shows affirmative). Outcome: favorably reported to Rules and Reference; roll to remain open at chair's discretion.

- Senate Bill 6 — Motion: favorably report to Committee on Rules and Reference. Moved by Vice Chair Brenner. Roll-call affirmative votes recorded: Chair Manchester; Vice Chair Brenner; Senator Dodson; Senator Landis; Senator O’Brien; Ranking Member Weinstein; Senator DeMauro. Outcome: favorably reported to Rules and Reference; roll to remain open at chair's discretion.

- Senate Bill 21 — Motion: favorably report to Committee on Rules and Reference. Moved by Vice Chair Brenner. Roll-call affirmative votes recorded: Chair Manchester; Vice Chair Brenner; Senator Johnson; Senator Landis; Senator Eberwein; Ranking Member Weinstein; Senator DeMauro. Outcome: favorably reported to Rules and Reference; roll to remain open at chair's discretion.

The committee adjourned after taking the recorded votes. The public testimony on the Wright Flyer focused on the aircraft’s historical recognitions and an appeal for state-symbol designation; the record does not show further committee debate on the merits of that designation or additional legislative language within the bills themselves.