Congressman Turner released the following statement after sending the NAHF Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bill Harris a letter detailing the importance of the Blue Ribbon Panel and why this investigation will continue with the goal of developing a long term financial plan for the Congressionally Chartered organization.

Attached is the letter Congressman Turner received from the National Aviation Hall of Fame along with the letter Congressman Turner sent in response.

“I am confident the Blue Ribbon Panel will be able to create a viable future for the NAHF.”

Below is an excerpt of Congressman Turner’s letter to the NAHF:

“As we move forward with the formation of the Blue Ribbon Panel, Phillip Parker of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Hoagland of the Dayton Development Coalition, and Brady Kress of Dayton History, have agreed to assemble a team of financial, accounting, legal, and non-profit organization experts over the next two weeks to serve.  Apart from producing the requested documents to my office, your work will be directly with the Blue Ribbon Panel itself.”

On January 25th, Congressman Turner sent a letter to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame stating he will investigate the Congressionally Chartered organization after receiving troubling information concerning their finances.

On January 30th, Congressman Turner then announced that he had received support from two National Aviation Hall of Fame Trustees Katie McCallum and Donald I. VanDerKarr after announcing his plans to investigate the NAHF. 

On February 1st, Congressman Turner sent a letter to Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bill Harris alerting him that the NAHF must cease and desist all deliberations, efforts or activities that relate to selling or disposing of artifacts in the NAHF’s possession.

On February 6th, Congressman Turner announced Phil Parker President and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition and Brady Kress, President and CEO of Dayton History will be tasked with forming a Blue Ribbon Panel to create a sustainable plan for the NAHF’s future.

On February 6th, both Senator Rob Portman and the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee Rob Bishop (UT-01) have expressed their support of the investigation and the Blue Ribbon Panel.

Congressman Turner is exercising his oversight authority to investigate these allegations concerning the Congressionally Chartered organization.

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