[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPPORTING THE AIRR ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RYAN A. COSTELLO

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as the House continues its 
work on long-term reauthorization and reform of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and related programs, I would like to reiterate my 
support for commonsense provisions included in H.R. 4441, the Aviation 
Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016, which would ensure 
the safety of our commercial aircraft and passengers.
   Mr. Speaker, early last year I met with my constituent, Justin 
Madden, who is the National Secretary/Treasurer for the Aircraft 
Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), which represents the aircraft 
maintenance technicians of both Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. 
During the course of our conversation, we discussed many issues 
impacting the aviation industry, including safety. Justin brought to my 
attention that he and his colleagues are subject to background checks, 
as well as pre-employment and random drug tests, yet their counterparts 
at foreign aircraft repair stations are not required to meet the same 
safety precautions.
   As the amount of maintenance work performed on U.S. aircraft at 
foreign repair stations increases, we must do more to ensure that the 
employees at these stations are also held to the same level of 
professional standards as their counterparts at U.S repair stations.
   On October 31st of last year, Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 
disintegrated over the Sinai Peninsula. All 224 people on board the 
flight tragically died that day. On January 29, 2016, Reuters reported 
that a mechanic had been detained and was suspected of planting a bomb, 
which he had been given by his cousin, who was a member of ISIS. Two 
policemen and a baggage handler were also suspected of helping the 
mechanic. This incident alone should give us pause as we think about 
the safety of American aircraft and the American flying public.
   Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Transportation & Infrastructure 
Committee Chairman Bill Shuster for his commitment to safety and for 
working with me and Representative Dan Lipinski and Representative Lou 
Barletta to include Section 402 in the Aviation, Innovation, Reform, 
and Reauthorization Act.
   This provision marks a bipartisan, commonsense step forward in 
ensuring that background checks and drug tests are required of 
employees at foreign repair stations who work on U.S. commercial 
aircraft, strengthening America's commitment to protecting its citizens 
and ensuring safe air travel.

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