IV

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 307

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United States position on

the disinsection of aircraft at the eleventh meeting of the Facilitation

Division of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 5, 1994

Mr. DEFAZIO introduced the following concurrent resolution; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Public Works

and Transportation

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the United

States position on the disinsection of aircraft at the

eleventh meeting of the Facilitation Division of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Whereas the United States has a responsibility to protect the

health and safety of United States air travelers in the

United States and abroad;

Whereas the United States ended the practice of aircraft

cabin disinsection fifteen years ago after determining that

the process was ineffective and posed a possible health

risk to aircraft passengers;

Whereas twenty-seven countries require disinsection of aircraft cabins by the spraying of an insecticide while pas-
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HCON 307 IH

sengers are on board the aircraft or by a residual pesticide treatment which is not registered for use in the

United States;

Whereas nearly ten million people fly every year from the

United States to countries that require disinsection of

aircraft;

Whereas United States pilots and flight attendants on flights

to such countries are repeatedly exposed to the chemicals

used in disinsection of aircraft;

Whereas approximately fifty-three million Americans, more

than 20 percent of the population, suffer chronic respiratory problems that put them at special risk to aircraft cabin disinsection procedures;

Whereas no tests have been conducted to determine whether

insecticides used for aircraft cabin disinsection are safe

for use in unventilated aircraft cabins or for people with

chemical sensitivities or breathing conditions;

Whereas there has been a decrease in the number of insecticides registered for aircraft cabin disinsection by the Environmental Protection Agency by reason of the health

concerns raised with respect to such insecticides, and

there is no indication that insecticides produced in foreign countries which might serve to replace such insecticides present any less threat to health;

Whereas Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil

Aviation, done at Chicago, December 7, 1944, states that

‘‘Contracting States shall ensure that their procedures

for disinsection or any other remedial measures are not

injurious to the health of passengers and crew and cause

the minimum of discomfort to them’’;
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HCON 307 IH

Whereas the Facilitation Division of the International Civil

Aviation Organization is scheduled to meet in the spring

of 1995 to discuss changes to the standards set forth in

Annex 9 to the Convention; and

Whereas the United States will be a participant at that meeting: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the

3 United States delegation to the spring 1995 meeting of

4 the Facilitation Division of the International Civil Avia5 tion Organization—

6 (1) seek to amend the Convention on Inter7 national Civil Aviation, done at Chicago, December

8 7, 1944, to end aircraft disinsection practices that

9 threaten the health of aircraft passengers and crew;

10 and

11 (2) make every effort to gain the support and

12 cosponsorship of other member nations of the orga13 nization in that amendment.

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