[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 93 (Friday, May 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO 
 SUBMIT A REPORT ON HELICOPTER AND ROTOCRAFT NOISE IN THE DISTRICT OF 
                            COLUMBIA FRIDAY

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 27, 2022

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today I introduce a bill that would direct 
the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report to Congress 
containing recommendations on how to reduce helicopter noise in the 
District of Columbia. Such recommendations would include altitude, 
number of flights, flight paths, time of day of flights, types of 
aircraft, operating procedures and pilot training. The Secretary would 
be required to consult with any federal agencies or departments that 
fly helicopters in D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department, any 
medical helicopter operators that routinely fly in D.C. and any other 
operator that routinely flies a helicopter in D.C. The report would be 
due to Congress no later than 180 days after the enactment of the bill.
  Even though D.C. has the most restricted airspace in the country, I 
hear from D.C. residents almost daily about the negative impact of 
helicopter noise on their lives. The noise can harm health and quality 
of life, and helicopters can even harm the structural integrity of 
homes. While I recognize the need for helicopters in D.C., the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress must do more to mitigate the 
harm to D.C. residents.
  In 2019, I led members of the National Capital Region (NCR) in 
requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study 
helicopter noise in the NCR. Last year, GAO issued its report. GAO 
found that there had been nearly 90,000 helicopter flights in the NCR 
from 2017 to 2019. GAO recommended that the FAA develop a mechanism to 
exchange helicopter noise information with operators in the NCR. The 
FAA indicated that it would implement such a mechanism. In March 2021, 
I introduced the Washington, DC Area Helicopter Noise Information 
Exchange Act of 2021, which would require the FAA to implement such a 
mechanism. In April 2022, I introduced the Reducing Helicopter Noise in 
the District of Columbia Act, which would require all helicopters in 
D.C. to fly at the maximum altitude permitted by the FAA in D.C., with 
limited exceptions.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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