[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE AIRLINE PERSONNEL TRAINING ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Airline Personnel Training Enhancement Act, an important piece of 
legislation that requires airlines to provide alcohol server training 
for flight attendants.
  Late last year, another tragic drunk driving accident occurred in New 
Mexico resulting in the death of a mother, father, and three children, 
leaving only one surviving daughter. The family, on their way home from 
a soccer match, was struck by the drunk driver as he drove down the 
wrong side of the interstate. The driver also died in the accident.
  As more was revealed about the events leading up to the accident, we 
learned that only a few hours earlier, the driver was already visibly 
intoxicated on a flight to New Mexico. While other passengers noticed 
that the man appeared to be intoxicated, the man was served more 
alcohol during the flight. Two hours after landing, the man, with a 
blood alcohol content level four times the legal limit, killed this 
family.
  After this horrible tragedy occurred, I learned that while Federal 
regulations prohibit an intoxicated person to be served alcohol on 
board a flight, or to even board a flight, only some airlines actually 
provide the training necessary to help these attendants identify and 
cope with intoxicated passengers. Additional training to identify 
intoxicated passengers either boarding or already on the flight is 
critical to ensuring attendants make informed decisions when serving 
alcohol.
  For this reason, I am introducing simple, straightforward legislation 
to ensure airline personnel receive this training. My bill requires air 
carriers to provide alcohol server training to gate and flight 
attendants. This training also will include ways to deal with 
disruptive passengers and identifying intoxicated passengers. This 
training, which would have to occur annually, would include situational 
training on how to handle intoxicated individuals who are belligerent. 
It is my hope that this will improve public safety both in the air and 
on the ground. This legislation cannot prevent every tragedy that comes 
from alcohol abuse, but it is one more valuable step we can take in the 
ongoing effort to stop drunk driving.
  I ask for your support of this legislation.

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