[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3581-H3582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IS AGENCY IN DISARRAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that the Federal 
Aviation Administration is an agency in disarray, at best. In fact, at 
worst, it is an unpiloted craft without any direction.
  The primary mission of the Federal Aviation Administration is to 
ensure airplane and passenger safety and security. Last year, after the 
explosion of TWA flight 800, FAA tightened security at all U.S. 
airports.
  Airports spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to change 
parking and cars were towed when vehicles were left unattended. Some of 
the harassment of the traveling public became, in fact, absurd. 
Finally, after assurances that no immediate terrorist attack was 
underway, FAA allowed our airports and the traveling public some more 
reasonable approaches to airport parking and passenger access.
  Now, months after nearly all evidence points to a mechanical failure 
as the cause of TWA flight 800, FAA continues to harass the American 
traveling public with several dumb and totally unproductive procedures. 
Regulations still require that passengers are asked these questions: 
First, ``Have you packed your own luggage or bag?''; and second, ``Has 
your baggage or luggage been in your possession at all times?''
  Now, I ask what flaky half-baked terrorist or terrorist accomplice 
would answer these questions legitimately? Should a passenger honestly 
confess to this interrogation, they should be cautioned because they 
will be searched, harassed, and subject to Gestapo-like interrogation.
  Mr. Speaker, the loss of life as a result of domestic air terrorism 
does not

[[Page H3582]]

even rank as a cause of airline fatalities, yet FAA spends untold 
resources enforcing, fining, and monitoring this outdated requirement. 
All this is done in spite of the fact that TWA flight 800 exploded due 
to a mechanical failure.

                              {time}  1045

  In addition to asking the unproductive questions I mentioned, ticket 
agents must see a photo ID. I submit that not since the fall of the 
former Soviet Union have American domestic airline passengers or any 
passengers been subject to similar photo ID requirements.
  Now, showing your photo ID at the ticket counter sure does a lot of 
good. Any fool could check in at a ticket counter, pass their ticket on 
to another passenger, who would then board the airplane. Now, if the 
passenger was required to show a ticket, a name, and photo ID as you 
boarded the airplane with your ticket coupon, that might match the 
passengers with the ID's that they present. Here again, FAA makes 
airlines and passengers jump through useless and needless hoops. Agents 
and airlines are fined if they fail to comply.
  My response when I wrote the FAA, when I questioned and protested 
these ridiculous regulations, are actually dumber than the requirements 
FAA has mandated. Why not dedicate FAA personnel, energy, and funding 
for really improving airline safety and security? We know the causes of 
almost every fatal domestic airline crash with certainty except for 
several cases, and the FAA knows them.
  One is a problem with 737's. These models carry a tremendous number 
of passengers. And there are two airline crashes, one in Pittsburgh and 
the other United, in Colorado, crashes because of problems with their 
rudders and their stabilization. FAA should be paying attention to this 
problem. Even in spite of Vice President Gore's announcement in 1996, 
simulation training and retrofitting of 737's could be expedited rather 
than taking 2 years as now planned. Further research and resources 
could be devoted to finding the mechanical problems that downed TWA 
flight 800 and killed 229 people.
  After 10 years, FAA has blown billions of dollars and still failed to 
upgrade our outdated 1950's air traffic controller system. And after 
numerous fatal crashes of imported commuter planes, FAA has still not 
begun to crack down on these imported aircraft. Let us put the emphasis 
where it should be. Let us get FAA together.

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