[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998

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                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support in H.R. 
4057, the Airport Improvement Program Reauthorization Act of 1998. This 
bill contains several important provisions critical to ensuring the 
efficiency and safety of our Nation's air traffic system, such as 
``whistle blower'' protection and making runway incursion devices 
eligible for AIP funding.
  This bill also authorizes funding critical to the resolution of an 
enormous back-log of equal employment opportunity complaints filed with 
the FAA and the Department of Transportation. As most of you know, this 
current back-log is one of the reasons that more than 200 women have 
filed a class action lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against the 
Federal Aviation Administration.
  Last year, I read with great interest and dismay an article printed 
in the Friday, July 18, 1997 edition of USA Today. The story 
highlighted allegations of sexual harassment and sex discrimination 
among female air traffic controllers at John Wayne Airport in Orange 
County, California and at FAA regulated facilities across the country.
  On July 23, I wrote to Chairman Duncan and Ranking Member Lipinski 
urging them to hold a hearing to further investigate these allegations. 
The leadership of the subcommittee honored my request and held a 
hearing on Thursday, October 23, 1997.
  On the job sexual harassment is a pervasive and insidious problem. It 
is made worse when the alleged perpetrators of this heinous activity 
put the lives of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children at risk 
by harassing female air traffic controllers while they are directing 
flights as high as 36,000 feet or giving others instruction for landing 
or guiding aircraft on the ground to the appropriate gates or runways.
  We must ensure that our nation's air traffic control towers are the 
safest in the world, free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. 
These activities lower the morale of the employees who are victims of 
discrimination and their colleagues who witness it. U.S. Dept. of Labor 
estimates that American business loses $1 billion in absenteeism, new 
employee training and replacement costs, and low morale as a result of 
sexual harassment. (This figure does not include judgments and civil 
court cases.)
  I applaud FAA Administrator Jane Garvey for paying immediate 
attention to this matter and for taking steps to eliminate sexual 
harassment from the FAA. In addition to her ``Zero Tolerance'' policy, 
Administrator Garvey has created an accountability board that will 
review all allegations, regardless of origin, and take timely, 
consistent and appropriate action.
  The Administrators efforts, combined with the funds authorized here 
today, will go a long way towards dealing with the issue of sexual 
harassment and how the complaints are ultimately dealt with. But this 
is not enough. We must now work to change the culture within the FAA, 
and hold those persons who are guilty of sexual harassment accountable.
  I'd like to thank Chairman Duncan and Ranking Member Lipinski for 
their leadership, and for working with me to include this language in 
this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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