[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11259-S11260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             AIRLINE SAFETY

  Mr. PRESSLER. Madam President, this morning we had excellent 
testimony in the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee from a 
number of witnesses who represented the families of airplane crashes. I 
believe we had five or six unfortunate airplane crashes. We also had 
other representatives of next of kin there at the Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation Committee. It was a very moving hearing.
  I want to commend the witnesses who appeared. I also want to say that 
it is time we act in terms of designating the National Transportation 
Safety Board as the responsible agency in terms of what happens after 
an airplane crash. We hope there are no airplane crashes. That would be 
an ideal situation. Whether it is a small crash or a big crash, 
inevitably in human history there will probably be some.
  We want the next of kin to be taken care of and notified in a 
sensitive and organized way. This is not entirely the fault of the 
airlines, as was pointed out in the balance of the testimony we 
received. In the past, the rules have not been clear as to who is in 
charge. Some of the manifest problems in the past have arisen because 
of different practices. Sometimes passengers will get off a plane at 
the very last minute, even after having checked in.
  In fairness to the airlines, there has been some uncertainty. Now we 
have an opportunity to set up a system, working with the Gore 
Commission, and I am pleased to be designated to be a liaison to the 
Gore Commission, plus the FAA bill that is before the Senate. This 
afternoon at 3:30 I believe the conferees on the FAA bill will be 
meeting, and part of that will be to be sure the National 
Transportation Safety Board is designated as the agency with the 
responsibility and the proper equipment, funding and personnel to deal 
with families and next of kin, and to work with our airports and our 
airlines in times of emergencies.

  Let me commend the National Transportation Safety Board, because 
under the leadership of Jim Hall, I believe they have been doing an 
excellent job with their responsibilities. I am glad they are willing 
to assume this additional responsibility of being the lead agency, of 
taking the lead, in terms of dealing with families and next of kin and 
notification and counseling and so forth in times of an airplane crash.
  Let me also say a word about some of our smaller airports and some of 
our smaller airplanes. We want to be sure they are safe for the flying 
public. Many of our people do not live at a hub airport. A hub airport 
is a central airport such as New York, Minneapolis, or Denver. Over 
half of the airline passengers in this country originate at small 
airports, on smaller planes. We certainly want to make them safe and 
reassure the flying public of their safety. However, we cannot get into 
a real expensive situation. We have to find some of the new devices, 
see they are brought in line and manufactured in large numbers, so we 
can find reasonable ways to achieve air safety.

[[Page S11260]]

  This afternoon, as the Federal aviation authorization bill moves 
forward and comes to the Senate floor, I hope we all keep in mind the 
fine testimony we heard this morning from those fine witnesses. I want 
to help them.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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