    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 25, 1996]
    [Pages 1200-1201]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing Measures To Improve Aviation Safety and Security in
    Jamaica, New York
    July 25, 1996

        Good afternoon. Hillary and I have just met with the families of
    those who lost their lives on TWA Flight 800. I'd like to talk a little
    about that meeting and describe for you the immediate steps I have
    ordered to improve airline safety and security.
        These families had suffered enormous pain, the loss of a parent, a
    child, a husband, a wife, a brother, a nephew, a niece. They were still
    in a great deal of pain, and I know that we can all understand not only
    their pain but the frustration that they feel at the time it is taking
    to recover their loved ones and to get answers.
        I also want you to know, however, that an awful lot of them
    expressed gratitude to me for the efforts that are being made by the
    Government personnel, the TWA personnel assigned to the families, and
    the many volunteers who are working hard to make this awful experience
    at least bearable for them.
        We have listened to the victims' families. While much has been done
    by many to assist them, they believe, and I agree, that there should be
    in place in the Federal Government a specific office that has the
    responsibility and the capability to assist victims' families in
    tragedies like this one. That is the case where FEMA does the work when
    there are natural disasters; it was the case in Oklahoma City. That is
    not the case today with regard to airline crashes. And I intend to work
    with Congress to see that it does happen.
        We do not yet know what caused Flight 800 to crash, whether it was
    mechanical failure or sabotage, but we will find out. Just last night
    the divers who were braving the waters of the Atlantic to search for
    answers recovered both flight data recorders. Our experts are analyzing
    their contents at this very moment. This is a major step toward
    unraveling the mystery of Flight 800. In the meantime, let me again ask
    every American not to jump to conclusions.
        This investigation is moving forward with great care and even
    greater determination. While we seek the cause of the disaster, let us
    all agree that we must not wait to alleviate the concerns of the
    American people about air safety and air security. In the wake of the
    ValuJet crash and TWA 800, that concern has increased. The safety record
    of the United States aviation is unmatched in the world, and air travel
    remains the safest means of transportation. But that is of no
    consolation when a single crash, whatever its cause, can take so many
    lives.
        Beginning in 1993, our administration took steps to improve aviation
    safety and security. We proposed a detailed plan to overhaul and
    modernize the air traffic control system. We worked with the airline
    industry to identify and correct safety problems. We hired more than 200
    safety inspectors, and we're budgeted for 258 more. We've issued uniform
    safety standards. We began field testing new high-tech explosive
    detection machines in San Francisco and Atlanta. And we very much hope
    we can work through the problems with those machines and bring them on-
    line in all airports in the near future. We significantly increased
    security vigilance at our airports. And the FAA created a new Government
    and industry panel to review and improve airport security and airline
    security.
        Today I'm announcing new measures to increase the safety and
    security of air travel. First, I have ordered the Secretary of
    Transportation to issue new directives on airline security that

    [[Page 1201]]

    cover international and domestic flights and apply to passengers and to
    cargo. From now on, we will hand-search more luggage and screen more
    bags. And we will require preflight inspections for any plane flying to
    or from the United States, every plane, every cabin, every cargo hold,
    every time.
        Second, I have asked Vice President Gore to take charge of a
    commission to review aviation safety, security, and the pace of
    modernization of the air traffic control system, a subject that he and
    his reinventing Government task force have been working on for more than
    3 years now. The Gore commission will work with the National
    Transportation Safety Board, the Departments of Transportation and
    Justice, industry advisory groups, and concerned nongovernmental
    organizations. The Vice President will report his initial findings of
    aviation security to me in 45 days, including an action plan to deploy
    new high-technology inspection machines that can detect the most
    sophisticated explosives.
        I want to stress again, we do not know why TWA Flight 800 crashed.
    If it proves to be a mechanical failure, additional safety measures may
    be required. If it proves to be a criminal act, other security steps may
    be required. Whatever needs to be done, we will do it. I will use the
    full powers of the Presidency. And if congressional authorization is
    required, I am certain we will have full bipartisan congressional
    support.
        The steps we are taking today and others we may take in the future
    could increase the inconvenience and the expense of air travel. I want
    the American people to know that up front. We'll do everything we can to
    minimize these costs, but the safety and security of the American people
    must be our top priority.
        We're privileged to live in a time of great possibility and great
    opportunities for mobility for our people and people throughout the
    world. But we know that these times are not free of peril. Our
    responsibility now as Americans is to pull together and work together to
    solve the problems of tragedies like TWA Flight 800; to support their
    families with our thoughts, our prayers, and where we can, our tangible
    support; and to do whatever is necessary to look out for the security
    and the safety of the American people and its aviation system.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. in Hangar 12 at the John F.
    Kennedy International Airport.