[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.