[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 42 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3237-S3238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AVIATION MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1998

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2843 and the 
Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2843) directing the Administrator of the 
     Federal Aviation Administration to reevaluate the equipment 
     in medical kits carried on, and to make a decision regarding 
     automatic external defibrillators to be carried on, aircraft 
     operated by air carriers, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, the Commerce Committee has agreed to 
discharge H.R. 2843, the Aviation Medical Assistance Act of 1998. The 
companion Senate bill, S. 1584, was introduced by Senators Frist and 
Dorgan and was also referred to the Commerce Committee.
  Mr. FORD. I thank the Chairman. There is one point I want to make 
about the bill. The report accompanying the House version of H.R. 2843, 
House Report 105-456, notes that the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA) has the discretion not to require defibrillators on aircraft with 
a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds, or at small airports. The 
report goes on to indicate that the smaller aircraft, less than the 
size of major carrier jets, typically have ``relatively narrow aisles 
and limited open floor space at the entry door and in the service 
areas.'' Is it the Senator's understanding that the FAA has the 
discretion not to require defibrillators on small aircraft typically 
used by the regional airlines?
  Senator McCAIN. That is my understanding.
  Senator FORD. So for example, the FAA could require the use of 
defibrillators on board a Boeing 747, but has the discretion not to do 
so for classes of aircraft, like regional jets or turbo prop aircraft. 
Is that correct?
  Senator FRIST. If I could indicate to the Chairman and other members, 
it is the intention of the authors of the bill to provide the FAA with 
the ability to make just that sort of determination. The bill clearly 
gives the

[[Page S3238]]

FAA the ability to use its judgement, to take into account many 
factors, in determining the size and type of aircraft, subject to any 
defibrillator requirement. For example, the report accompanying the 
House bill talks about the ability of smaller aircraft to land in the 
event of an emergency more quickly than larger aircraft because they 
need shorter runways. The report ``urges the FAA to consider these 
factors in deciding where to draw the the line''.
  Senator McCAIN. I appreciate the comments of my colleagues to clarify 
the intent of the bill.
  Senator FORD. I thank the Chairman and my colleagues.
  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and that any 
statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2843) was passed.

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