[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AVIATION SAFETY RULE

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. I come before the House today, Mr. Speaker, to call for 
the immediate implementation of the pending aviation safety rule on 
preventing pilot fatigue.
  In February of 2009, Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in my 
community of western New York. The investigation of the crash brought 
to light serious deficiencies in Federal aviation safety standards, 
including our rules to prevent pilot fatigue. In response, Congress 
unanimously passed legislation to reform these rules. Yet despite broad 
congressional support, implementation of the pilot fatigue rule is more 
than 2 months overdue. Yesterday, 102 of my colleagues and I sent a 
letter to the administration urging the quick implementation of these 
reforms.
  Mr. Speaker, the old policies still in place do not adequately 
prevent fatigue or sufficiently protect the traveling public. We must 
implement the overdue pilot fatigue rule. While we delay, the traveling 
public continues to take to the skies bearing unnecessary risks.

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