this is a ruth nichols graduation photograph 1924 at college in massachusetts. school for women that of course still exists today? and it was here at wellesley the root nichols decided not only did she want to choose her own path. not only did she want to live her own life. she wanted to fly planes. and in 1930 she would acquire this plane here. this was a lockheed vega. undeniably the fastest most modern plane of its time. she named it the akita. and had borrowed it from a businessman that some of you may recognize his name was powell crosley the owner of the cincinnati reds. and within a matter of months ruth nichols was flying this plane into the record books. she quickly had the altitude record. the transcontinental speed record the short land speed record and in june 1931 she will attempt to fly this plane right here. over the ocean trying to be the first woman all alone at the controls of an aircraft flying over the atlantic. it's worth pointing out. this is one year a full year before amelia earhart would ever dare to make such a flight. and you know were

a friend and competitor of amelia's name, ruth nichols, brought the aviation craze to my hometown ofng flight all the way from oakland, california. together, they were charter members and leaders of the 99, an organization that supports women in aviation. to this day, all of these heroics, all of us leadership took place thousands of feet up toward that happens. but her character was first formed in the rich heartland of kansas. those were the routes that helped launch amelia, where the open plains framed a wide open sky. i could not imagine a more fitting american to stand honored in this place. ladies and gentlemen, the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the united states house of representatives. thank you. this is a very exciting day for all of us. thank you to all of our speakers for your beautiful tributes and prayers about amelia earhart. thank you, kansas, for bringing honor to this capital with this beautiful gift of amelia earhart statue. her presence here brings luster to the capital and luster to the state of kansas. thank you all so much for making this possible. it's a

a friend and competitor of millions named ruth nichols brought the aviation craze to my home town of organization that supports women in aviation to this day. all of these heroics part of the leadershipok took place thousans of feet up toward the heavens. was first formed in the rich heartland of kansas. those were the roots that helped launch amelia. the open plains frame a white open sky. i could not imagine a more refig american to stand honored in this place. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen the honorable nancy pelosi speaker speakerof the nine states housef representatives. fix thank you. this is a very exciting day for all of us. thank you to all of our speakers for your beautiful tributes and prayers about amelia earhart. thank you kansas for bringing honor to this capitol with the beautiful gift of amelia earhart statute her into the state of kansas. thank you all so much for making this possible. it's a privilege to join in celebrating this pioneering pilot who was a source of pride for kansas and for our entire country. and how special it is with members of her family wit