[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 61 (Monday, April 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E299]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 10, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, on April 7th, I introduced 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. 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. In 2021, 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 has indicated it is establishing such a mechanism. In February, 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 both bills.

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