[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 307 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 307

 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States position 
    on the disinsection of aircraft at the eleventh meeting of the 
Facilitation Division of the International Civil Aviation Organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 5, 1994

 Mr. DeFazio introduced the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Public Works 
                           and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States position 
    on the disinsection of aircraft at the eleventh meeting of the 
Facilitation Division of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Whereas the United States has a responsibility to protect the health and safety 
        of United States air travelers in the United States and abroad;
Whereas the United States ended the practice of aircraft cabin disinsection 
        fifteen years ago after determining that the process was ineffective and 
        posed a possible health risk to aircraft passengers;
Whereas twenty-seven countries require disinsection of aircraft cabins by the 
        spraying of an insecticide while passengers are on board the aircraft or 
        by a residual pesticide treatment which is not registered for use in the 
        United States;
Whereas nearly ten million people fly every year from the United States to 
        countries that require disinsection of aircraft;
Whereas United States pilots and flight attendants on flights to such countries 
        are repeatedly exposed to the chemicals used in disinsection of 
        aircraft;
Whereas approximately fifty-three million Americans, more than 20 percent of the 
        population, suffer chronic respiratory problems that put them at special 
        risk to aircraft cabin disinsection procedures;
Whereas no tests have been conducted to determine whether insecticides used for 
        aircraft cabin disinsection are safe for use in unventilated aircraft 
        cabins or for people with chemical sensitivities or breathing 
        conditions;
Whereas there has been a decrease in the number of insecticides registered for 
        aircraft cabin disinsection by the Environmental Protection Agency by 
        reason of the health concerns raised with respect to such insecticides, 
        and there is no indication that insecticides produced in foreign 
        countries which might serve to replace such insecticides present any 
        less threat to health;
Whereas Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at 
        Chicago, December 7, 1944, states that ``Contracting States shall ensure 
        that their procedures for disinsection or any other remedial measures 
        are not injurious to the health of passengers and crew and cause the 
        minimum of discomfort to them'';
Whereas the Facilitation Division of the International Civil Aviation 
        Organization is scheduled to meet in the spring of 1995 to discuss 
        changes to the standards set forth in Annex 9 to the Convention; and
Whereas the United States will be a participant at that meeting: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the United States delegation to 
the spring 1995 meeting of the Facilitation Division of the 
International Civil Aviation Organization--
            (1) seek to amend the Convention on International Civil 
        Aviation, done at Chicago, December 7, 1944, to end aircraft 
        disinsection practices that threaten the health of aircraft 
        passengers and crew; and
            (2) make every effort to gain the support and cosponsorship 
        of other member nations of the organization in that amendment.
                                 <all>