[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6796-S6797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG:
  S. 1193. A bill to improve the safety of animals transported on 
aircraft, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.


                  THE SAFE AIR TRAVEL FOR ANIMALS ACT

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I have a piece of legislation which I 
rise to introduce. This legislation is designed to protect a segment of 
our population that can't protect itself. I am talking about pets--
dogs, cats, and others that travel by air. I want to put this into 
perspective. Over 70 million households in America have pets--70 
million. So it affects a significant portion of our population. Pets 
become family members and they become a source of significant affection 
and attachment. In some cases, they are the vision for those who are 
sightless. They establish precious relationships.
  Over the last 5 years, there have been over 2,500 documented 
instances of dogs and cats experiencing severe injury in air travel, 
and 108 cats and dogs have died just as a result of exposure to 
excessive temperatures.
  Pets aren't baggage. They are part of a family, in many instances, 
and they ought to be treated that way when they accompany their masters 
when they fly. Over 500,000 pets a year are transported by air across 
this country. News reports have detailed stories of pets being left out 
on hot days, sitting on tarmacs while flights were delayed, or stuffed 
into cargo holds with little or no airflow, causing them to injure 
themselves in the desperation to escape this entrapment and very 
difficult environment.
  Some pets have actually had heavy baggage placed directly on top of 
their carriers. It is unacceptable. We can and must prevent these 
inhumane practices.
  So today I am introducing The Safe Air Travel for Animals Act. This 
bill responds to the tragic stories we have heard involving the death 
or injury of many beloved pets while traveling by airplane.
  The legislation has three goals. First, it ensures that airlines are 
held accountable for mistreatment of our pets, to ensure that animals 
are not treated like a set of golf clubs or other baggage. This 
legislation will put airlines on a tight leash.
  Second, the bill provides consumers with the right to know if an 
airline has a record of mistreatment or accidents with pets.
  Third, the bill addresses the problems of the aircraft themselves, 
making sure that the cargo hold is as safe as it possibly can be for 
animal travel.
  Airlines need to be held accountable for the harm they permit to 
happen to

[[Page S6797]]

our pets. Right now, airlines are only liable to owners for up to 
$1,250 for losing, injuring, or killing a pet.
  That is no different from what they would be liable for if they lost 
your suitcase. Under my bill, that limit for liability will be double.
  Now, anyone who owns a pet knows how expensive veterinary bills can 
be. If an animal is injured or dies as a result of flying, my bill 
would require the airlines to pay for the costs of veterinary care.
  Mr. President, my bill also provides consumers with the right to know 
about the conditions they face when they transport their animals by 
plane. My bill requires airlines to immediately report any incidents 
involving loss, injury or death of animals.
  Most importantly, the bill puts this information into the hands of 
the flying public. Pet owners should know which airlines are doing a 
good job, and which need to do better. Just as consumers favor airlines 
with solid, on-time records, they will also favor the airlines that 
have a good safety record with our pets. And, an airline that does a 
good job will want this information in the hands of consumers.
  Finally, the bill addresses the problem of the aircraft themselves. 
The airline industry is undergoing a retrofitting process, as required 
by the FAA, of all ``class D'' cargo holds, to prevent fires.
  These are special holds that have the facility to turn off the oxygen 
in the event of smoke or fire. But that also means that that is an 
execution for the pets that are in those holds.
  I believe that the industry should use this opportunity to see what 
improvements can be made to allow for better oxygen flow and 
temperature control to protect our pets.
  Mr. President, we must do more to prevent unnecessary deaths caused 
by lack of oxygen flow or exposure to heat.
  With this bill, travelers will feel more secure about using air 
travel to transport their pets.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in support of this 
legislation.
                                 ______