Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6493
Sponsor: Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2008-07-15 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Aviation safety
Commerce
Conflict of interests
Contractors
Contracts
Customer service
Data banks
Department of Transportation
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government ethics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Science, Technology, Communications
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: 
Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends federal transportation law to establish in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office to receive and assess complaints and information relating to possible violations of aviation safety laws and regulations.
 
Directs the FAA Administrator to modify the FAA customer service initiative, mission and vision statements, and other policy statements to: (1) remove any reference to air carriers or other entities regulated by the FAA as &quot;customers&quot;; (2) clarify that in regulating safety the only FAA customers are individuals traveling on aircraft; and (3) clarify that air carriers and other entities regulated by the FAA do not have the right to select the FAA employees who will inspect their operations.
 
Prohibits any person holding an air carrier operating certificate from knowingly employing, or contracting with, an individual to act as an agent or representative of the certificate holder in any matter before the FAA if, in the preceding two-year period, the individual: (1) served as, or was responsible for oversight of, an FAA flight standards inspector; and (2) had responsibility to inspect, or oversee inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder.
 
Prohibits any individual serving as a principal maintenance inspector of the FAA from being responsible for overseeing the operations of a single air carrier for a continuous period of more than five years.
 
Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a process by which the FAA air transportation oversight system database is reviewed by a team of FAA employees on a monthly basis to ensure that: (1) any trends in regulatory compliance are identified; and (2) appropriate corrective actions are taken.

action_date: 2008-07-22
text: 
Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office, with a Director appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, which shall receive and assess complaints and information relating to possible violations of aviation safety laws and regulations.

Directs the FAA Administrator to modify the FAA customer service initiative, mission and vision, and other policy statements to: (1) remove any reference to air carriers or other entities regulated by the FAA as &quot;customers&quot;; (2) state that in regulating safety the only FAA customers are individuals traveling on aircraft; and (3) state that air carriers and other entities regulated by the FAA do not have the right to select the FAA employees who will inspect their operations.

Prohibits any person holding an air carrier operating certificate from knowingly employing, or contracting with, an individual to act as an agent or representative of the certificate holder in any matter before the FAA if, in the preceding two-year period, the individual: (1) served as, or was responsible for oversight of, an FAA flight standards inspector; and (2) had responsibility to inspect, or oversee inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder.

Prohibits any individual serving as a principal supervisory inspector of the FAA from being responsible for overseeing the operations of a single air carrier for a continuous period of more than five years. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a process by which the FAA air transportation oversight system database is reviewed by a team of FAA employees on a monthly basis to ensure that: (1) any trends in regulatory compliance are identified; and (2) appropriate corrective actions are taken.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 0 (Roll no. 512). (text: CR H6744-6745)
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 0 (Roll no. 512).(text: CR H6744-6745)
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6793)
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Mr. Oberstar moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6744-6749)
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6493.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (E1460-1461)
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Introduced in House