[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 106 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8104-S8105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE TRAGIC CRASH OF TWA 
                               FLIGHT 800

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have consulted with the distinguished 
majority leader as to sequencing on a resolution relating to last 
night's crash of TWA flight 800, and this is a resolution which has, as 
I understand it, been cleared on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Could we have order, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate will come to order.
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. President, this resolution relates to the disaster last night 
involving TWA flight 800 where 229 passengers were killed. As I have 
said, my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Santorum, 
and I have taken the lead on this because at least from preliminary 
indications, our State, Pennsylvania, has been hit the hardest. We are 
not yet sure about the passenger list, but from all indications the 
passenger list contained some 16 members of the Montoursville High 
School French Club and 5 chaperones.
  I talked earlier today with Superintendent David Black and Principal 
Dan Chandler to get an idea of the impact on the community. They have 
commented that this group of students was a most extraordinary group, 
as shown by the fact that it was a specially planned trip to Paris, and 
these young men and women were among the best and the brightest.
  Along with these 16 high school students were 5 chaperones, and I 
understand a recent report shows that two other Pennsylvanians were on 
board. Of course, passengers included people from all over the United 
States and doubtless beyond the United States.
  So I offer this resolution expressing the sense of the Senate 
regarding the tragic crash of TWA flight 800:

       Whereas, on July 17, 1996, Trans World Airlines Flight 800 
     tragically crashed en route from New York to Paris, France, 
     creating a tremendous and tragic loss of life estimated at 
     229 men, women, and children;
       Whereas, according to Daniel L. Chandler, principal of 
     Montoursville, Pennsylvania High School, among those 
     traveling on board this airplane were 16 members of the 
     Montoursville High School French Club, who were among the 
     very best students of the French language at their school, 
     and five adult chaperones, who generously devoted their time 
     to making possible this planned three-week French Club trip 
     to Paris and the French provinces;
       Whereas the actual cause of the airplane crash is as of yet 
     unknown;
       Whereas the federal government is investigating the cause 
     of this tragedy; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the United States--
       (1) expresses its condolences to the families, friends, and 
     loved ones of those whose lives were taken away by this 
     tragic occurrence; and
       (2) expresses its sincere hope that the cause of this 
     tragedy will be determined through a thorough investigation 
     as soon as possible.

  That is the text of the resolution. Beyond that, as has been reported 
publicly, it is unknown what the cause was. We have requested a 
briefing for Senators through the Intelligence Committee or Terrorist 
Subcommittee of Judiciary. We are awaiting final word on that.
  Mr. President, I submit this resolution for consideration by the 
Senate and ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 280) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the tragic crash of TWA flight 800.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, last night TWA flight 800, on route 
from New York to Paris and then Rome, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 
approximately 10 miles off the coast of Long Island. It does not appear 
that there were any survivors among the 228 passengers and crewmembers 
who were aboard.
  My heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims of this 
tragedy. It is always hard to lose a loved one. It is particularly hard 
to lose a loved one in an unexpected, violent event such as last 
night's tragedy.
  We do not yet know the cause of this terrible crash. We do not know 
whether it was accidental or intentional.
  I do not believe that we should make assumptions at this time as to 
what happened last night. This is the time to collect the remains of 
the dead, to mourn their passing, and to begin to investigate the cause 
of this tragedy.
  Rest assured, however, that this is an event that must be fully 
investigated. If last night's tragedy was intentional, we will find out 
who was responsible. If it was the result of a mechanical or electrical 
failure, we will find out the cause.
  Every year, Americans take off and land 547 million times; 22 
thousand flights take off every day in this country.
  I am committed to achieving the highest possible level of safety for 
our Nation's airways. Yesterday's events point out that we need to 
redouble our efforts to ensure the safety of our travelers.

[[Page S8105]]

  Air transportation is an integral part of the lives of millions of 
Americans, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that it is 
as safe as we can possibly make it.
  We must do everything in our power to prevent future tragedies like 
the one that occurred last night.
  My prayers are with the families and friends of the people aboard TWA 
flight 800.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas and nays have been requested.
  Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution. 
The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Oregon [Mr. Hatfield] 
is necessarily absent.
  I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from 
Oregon [Mr. Hatfield] would vote ``yea.''
  Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Bradley] 
is necessarily absent.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Frahm). Are there any other Senators in 
the Chamber who desire to vote?
  The result was announced--yeas 98, nays 0, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 202 Leg.]

                                YEAS--98

     Abraham
     Akaka
     Ashcroft
     Baucus
     Bennett
     Biden
     Bingaman
     Bond
     Boxer
     Breaux
     Brown
     Bryan
     Bumpers
     Burns
     Byrd
     Campbell
     Chafee
     Coats
     Cochran
     Cohen
     Conrad
     Coverdell
     Craig
     D'Amato
     Daschle
     DeWine
     Dodd
     Domenici
     Dorgan
     Exon
     Faircloth
     Feingold
     Feinstein
     Ford
     Frahm
     Frist
     Glenn
     Gorton
     Graham
     Gramm
     Grams
     Grassley
     Gregg
     Harkin
     Hatch
     Heflin
     Helms
     Hollings
     Hutchison
     Inhofe
     Inouye
     Jeffords
     Johnston
     Kassebaum
     Kempthorne
     Kennedy
     Kerrey
     Kerry
     Kohl
     Kyl
     Lautenberg
     Leahy
     Levin
     Lieberman
     Lott
     Lugar
     Mack
     McCain
     McConnell
     Mikulski
     Moseley-Braun
     Moynihan
     Murkowski
     Murray
     Nickles
     Nunn
     Pell
     Pressler
     Pryor
     Reid
     Robb
     Rockefeller
     Roth
     Santorum
     Sarbanes
     Shelby
     Simon
     Simpson
     Smith
     Snowe
     Specter
     Stevens
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thurmond
     Warner
     Wellstone
     Wyden

                             NOT VOTING--2

     Bradley
     Hatfield
       
  The resolution (S. Res. 280) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  Mr. SANTORUM. I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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