[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AIRLINE SAFETY AND FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EXTENSION ACT OF 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5900, the 
Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act.
  Today we have the opportunity to make good on the promise we made to 
the Families of Flight 3407 when we passed the Airline Safety and Pilot 
Training Improvement Act in October of last year. Our promise that 
Congress would act to correct the lack of oversight and safety 
standards that contributed to the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in 
Buffalo, NY in February of 2009, taking the lives of 50 people.
  Three residents of New Jersey's 12th Congressional district were on 
this flight; Lorin Maurer, Ron Gonzales and Coleman Mellett. I have 
spoken with and heard from their families and friends, and my thoughts 
and prayers go out to them as they cope with the loss of these 
outstanding individuals. Lorin was a rising star at Princeton 
University whose positive attitude and volunteerism served as a shining 
example for the community. Ron was a tireless advocate for his 
community and he worked hard to save children who were in crisis due to 
domestic violence, drugs, gangs, and other social ills. And Coleman was 
a talented musician. Their passing was a huge loss to our community. I 
have been vigilant in working to ensure that we address the serious 
safety concerns that led to the crash.
  A series of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings 
exposed the disturbing fact that the crash of Flight 3407 was 
preventable. The pilots had received inadequate training on how to 
recover from a stall and how to proceed in icing conditions. Severe 
pilot fatigue also was identified as the cause of the crash. The NTSB 
found that regional carriers are held to lower safety standards than 
national carriers despite regional airlines' accounting for one-half of 
all scheduled flights in the United States. As a result, five of the 
last seven fatal commercial plane crashes involved regional carriers.
  As more Americans rely on commuter airlines for air service, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must take aggressive action to 
ensure that there is no difference in the level of safety provided by 
different air carriers. The NTSB hearings also made clear that the FAA 
has failed to issue regulations based on previous NTSB recommendations 
to establish uniform standards for training and performance. We owe it 
to the families and friends of the victims of the Flight 3407 to take 
action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
  Last year I joined my colleagues from Upstate New York, Christopher 
Lee and Brian Higgins in introducing the One Level of Safety Act. Our 
legislation would require regional carriers to meet the same training 
and safety standards of national carriers.
  Additionally, it would require the FAA to implement the unfulfilled 
NTSB recommendations that were found to be responsible for this crash. 
I would like to thank Chairman Costello for including these important 
provisions in the Airline Safety & Federal Aviation Administration 
Extension Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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