Arizona Congresswoman Debbie Lesko has reintroduced a resolution with bipartisan support to designate 18th April 2022, as National Amateur Radio Operators Day. Introduced on 19th April the measure recognizes the important contributions amateur radio operators have made. She introduced a similar bill in the last Congress.

Lesko said she was initially approached to introduce the resolution during the last Congress by then-12-year-old Raymond Anderson, N7KCB, of Peoria, Arizona.

As Lesko’s resolution notes, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) designates each April 18 as World Amateur Radio Day, to recognize the founding of the IARU in 1925. She said her resolution would recognize the amateur radio community with a national day in the US. The resolution cites the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) for providing “invaluable emergency communications services following recent natural disasters, including, but not limited to, helping coordinate disaster relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Maria and other extreme weather disasters.”

Lesko was joined by members of both parties as original cosponsors of the resolution. The list includes Representatives Robert Aderholt of Alabama; Julia Brownley of California; Kat Cammack of Florida; Paul Gosar of Arizona; Glenn Grothman, of Wisconsin; Vicky Hartzler of Missouri; Ashley Hinson of Iowa; Chris Jacobs of New York; Kaiali’i Kahele of Hawaii; Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania; Doug LaMalfa of California, and Daniel Webster of Florida.