[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION IN AMERICA'S
AIRSPACE
(Mr. ONDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ONDER. Mr. Speaker, I introduced today the House companion to
Senator Ted Cruz' ROTOR Act, legislation that I believe, as a pilot, is
essential to strengthening safety and communication in America's
airspace.
Earlier this year, the devastating collision between an American
Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed 67 innocent
lives. Among those on board was Asra Hussain, a neighbor of mine from
the St. Louis region.
Asra was a newlywed and a brilliant young professional whose life was
ended far too soon.
That disaster exposed troubling gaps in how Federal aircraft operate
in complex airspace.
The families who lost loved ones deserve answers, and the American
people deserve swift action to rebuild trust in the safety of our
skies.
The ROTOR Act closes loopholes that allow military aircraft to
disable location sharing during routine flights and requires aircraft
in high-traffic airspace to use modern tracking and location-sharing
technologies. This reform is backed by ATCs, pilots and, most
importantly, the families forever changed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the ROTOR Act's timely
safety reforms.
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