[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9562-S9563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 2023. A bill to provide for travelers' rights in air commerce, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


                   The Travelers' Rights Act of 1996

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as our open society has evolved, the 
Government has consistently, though in varying degrees, had to define 
the rights of consumers and citizens. In this regard, I introduce today 
the Travelers' Rights Act. This bill is to expedite access to 
information to airline customers and broaden the choices that air 
travelers have through greater information. Additionally, through the 
Victims Rights Program we call for greater coordination of governmental 
agencies and American Red Cross in providing facts to victims and 
survivors of victims.
  Mr. President, air travel in America is a fundamental of American 
transportation. I cannot imagine spanning the distances of Nevada, much 
less the Western United States to come back here and represent my State 
without the convenience of air travel. Perhaps we take many things 
about travel for granted; for instance, I do not know nor can I fathom 
the many details involved in getting a 747, the size of 12 city busses, 
into the sky. But, Mr. President, I believe that there are some basic 
rights of the half-billion passengers of airlines that need to be 
protected. I have searched the current statutes and regulations and am 
confident that the Federal Aviation Administration has many of the 
tools necessary to continue to make our skies safe. I am not convinced, 
however, that passengers, are receiving sufficient information about 
the aircraft and the many involved personnel and accessibility to the 
aircraft. Daily, pilots, mechanics, air tower controllers, and others 
dedicate themselves to meeting the needs of air travelers, but still 
the trust relationship requires some understanding that the FAA 
certificate requirements are being met by the personnel who serve the 
airline customers.
  While some may argue that requires a lot of information. I consider 
it to be the nature of the information not the quantity to be 
significant, because the traveler on the airlines are putting their 
lives in the airlines' hands and should be allowed the knowledge that 
bestows security, understanding and choice. There is information that 
ought to be available and if the customer seeks the information the 
airlines should expeditiously provide it. This bill is not to scare 
travelers about the safety and security of air travel, rather on the 
contrary, I believe this bill will inspire confidence through openness 
and knowledge. Additionally, if customers of air travel exercise their 
right to know about certain elements about the airlines, aircraft and 
crew then that too will enhance the trust between customers and the 
airlines.
  The second principle element of the bill is the Victims Rights 
Program, which is essential in alleviating some of the criticism of the 
airlines and restoring the confidence of airline customers. Increased 
coordination of the agencies and the American Red Cross in opening up 
communication between the investigating parties and the victims, 
appears to me, to be the least that we can do and an essential right of 
those who place their trust in air travel.
  This legislation is vital in making sure that these fundamental 
rights of information and knowledge are preserved. As airplane 
accidents occur and the airplanes are sabotaged, the sense of security 
that airplane passengers have paid for is undermined. This bill does 
not try to second guess the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
inspector general in safety investigations and security methods, 
because they have been given both the mission and the means of working 
with the airlines.

  Mr. President, last May a ValuJet DC-9 crashed into a Florida swamp, 
and before that in December an American Airlines aircraft flew into a 
South American mountainside. Then over 200 individuals died off the 
coast of New York and the Federal authorities have still not identified 
all the victims. Indeed, I have heard repeatedly that the survivors of 
victims cannot get information from the airlines and the National 
Transportation Safety Board and FBI. I believe that in the past couple 
of years, air travel have suffered terrible accidents and the American 
public who travel by air do not seem to get any more consideration, as 
far as information and education are concerned.
  We do hear, Mr. President, that security might be enhanced at the 
airports,

[[Page S9563]]

and that more screening of passengers might take place at airplane 
boarding and other draconian measures are being considered. Those 
issues need tremendous study and intensive deliberation of classified 
information among those who have the expertise. This bill focuses on 
the prerogatives of the traveler and through access of information the 
choices of the traveler expand and trust is preserved.
  I urge my colleagues to act quickly on this legislation so that this 
fundamental way of travel is not undermined by the airline industry's 
own protective silence and guarded communication. When unfortunate 
accidents or harm occurs, trust is best established by allowing the 
victims open access. Through this legislation the rights of travelers 
will be firmly preserved.
                                 ______