[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19089-19090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TWA FLIGHT 800 DISASTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the solemn occasion of 
the 11th anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 800. Many Americans 
remember where they were when they heard the shocking and tragic news 
about Flight 800 when it crashed off the southern shore of Long Island 
11 years ago tomorrow, on the evening of July 17, 1996, claiming the 
lives of all 230 passengers and crew on board.
  The event remains one of the worst air disasters in history and led 
to one of the most costly and extended investigations to date. Today, 
that loss is still felt by hundreds of families whose loved ones 
perished but are remembered by the breathtaking monument to their lives 
that extends along the grounds of East Moriches, Long Island, 
overlooking the waters of the Atlantic Ocean where the plane fell.
  Tomorrow, we honor the memory of those who perished, just moments 
after taking off from JFK International Airport bound for Paris. Some 
of the victims were on their way home; many were high school students 
on the first leg of an international field trip; and some were on the 
way to visit loved ones.
  Just as the families who lost their loved ones to the crash deserve 
to be remembered, so do each of Long Island's emergency personnel, 
volunteers and neighbors who selflessly responded to the crash and who 
worked tirelessly over the next several days and weeks following the 
disaster to assist with the search and recovery efforts.
  Like other challenging times our Nation has faced, the reaction to 
the Flight 800 catastrophe brought out the best, not only among my 
constituents, but in so many other areas in the surrounding towns, 
counties and States across the Northeast who joined in helping my 
community recover from its most horrific tragedy.
  Throughout their grief and despite the unimaginable shock, the 
families of the victims worked tirelessly to build a permanent memorial 
with the help of Navy Seabees and thousands of dedicated local and 
building trade union members. The solemn monument serves as a constant 
reminder of our tremendous loss 11 years ago tomorrow.
  Last year, it was my honor and privilege to attend the dedication of 
the memorial completed at Smith Point County Park just before the 10th 
anniversary of the crash.
  The centerpiece of this breathtaking and poignant memorial is a black 
granite sculpture called ``The Light.'' It was designed by Henry 
Seaman, whose cousin died in the crash. The monument offers some 
measure of closure to everyone who was affected by this terrible 
tragedy.
  The memory of the passengers of Flight 800 lives on because of the 
continued work of people like Henry's brother, John Seaman, who is 
President of the Families of Flight 800 Association and among the 
memorial's most passionate and hardworking advocates.
  In the 11 years since Flight 800, hundreds of thousands of people 
have visited the park in an acknowledgment of a shared sorrow for those 
who died. The monument ensures that future generations can do the same.
  As we recognize the 11th anniversary of the Flight 800 disaster, it 
is important for us to take stock in the progress achieved since 1996 
to prevent air disasters. We have made some great strides in aviation 
safety, particularly with design upgrades for passenger and cargo 
aircraft planes.
  In particular, ongoing research and development of ``inerting'' 
technology will help to mitigate the vulnerability of aircraft fuel 
tanks to flammability, the underlying cause of the Flight 800 crash.
  In fact, the crash was likely caused by a spark from a short-circuit 
in the Boeing 747's wiring that ignited the tank's volatile vapors. 
Although this was determined years ago and we know how to prevent 
similar disasters, we still have not required technology upgrades to 
protect passengers against another tragedy like the one witnessed 10 
years ago.
  To date, however, the Federal Aviation Administration has delayed 
taking on this challenge and has declined to work with the industry to 
implement a final FAA directive that would protect every air traveler 
with existing technology.
  We still don't have the mandate for change. That is why I introduced 
the Transport Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety Act, which requires the FAA to 
retrofit all planes with new technology and to increase safety. I am 
pleased to report that the pending FAA reauthorization bill, which was 
recently passed by the House Transportation Committee, of which I am a 
member, includes a similar provision.
  Senator Schumer is sponsoring a companion measure and is working with 
his colleagues on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to 
move this legislation.
  I am hopeful that my colleagues here in the Congress will work with 
me to bring an end to this delay. We have

[[Page 19090]]

taken significant steps towards maintaining the memory of Flight 800, 
but we should also ensure that we don't allow this disaster to repeat 
itself.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again offer my deepest condolences 
to the surviving families and friends of the victims of Flight 800 and 
encourage my colleagues to join me in commending each of them for the 
grace and dignity with which they have handled unspeakable pain.

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