Date: 2008-07-22
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6493The Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008. Mr. Speaker. as many of us know. FAAs stated mission is "to provide the safest. most efficient aerospace system in the world." Regrettably. recent aircraft groundings and flight cancellations by our Nations air carriers to ensure compliance with safety directives calls into question whether or not the principal Agency charged with protecting the flying public is living up to its mission. I think it goes without saying that over the years. the standing of our Nations aviation system as one of the safest in the world can be directly attributed to the diligent efforts of dedicated inspection and maintenance personnel. However. these respective personnel are only as good as their managerial and operational framework. and according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and our own Transportation and Infrastructure Committees Oversight and Investigations staff. serious flaws exist within the management of FAAs safety inspection framework. In a letter dated December 20. 2007. to Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters outlining allegations of two FAA inspectors. now known as the whistleblowers. the U.S. Office of Special Counsel states. "The whistleblowers allege that safety and adherence to regulatory compliance have taken a back seat to personal friendships and favors at the Southwest Certificate Management Office. They have disclosed serious allegations of a compromise of the public safety mission at FAA. "Even in the face of investigations substantiating wrongdoing and safety breaches [with respect to the ADs] FAA does not appear to have held management and safety inspectors appropriately accountable for their actions and inaction. The information disclosed by (the whistleblowers] reveals a substantial likelihood that serious safety concerns persist in the management and operation of the inspection and maintenance programs at FAA." Mr. Speaker. this type of behavior is simply unacceptable -and warrants a complete overhaul of how the FAA goes about its business of safety inspections and overreliance on Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Programs. H.R. 6493 is a step in this direction. The bill establishes an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office with an independent Director. modifies the Agencys customer service initiative. imposes postemployment on FAA inspectors. restricts the time a principal maintenance inspector may oversee a single carrier. and increases scrutiny of the Agencys air transport oversight system database. When it comes to the proper adherence to safety protocols. FAA should be in the business of zero tolerance. If a plane is out of compliance for whatever reason. it should be grounded until it comes into complianceperiod. Yes. the American economy is dependent on the movement of people and goods. but this movement should not and cannot come at the expense of safety. Given the current. delicate nature of the airline industry. I cannot imagine that there exists a single airline executive in this country that would sanction the operation of a noncompliant or unsafe plane. As I close I want to thank the leadership of the Aviation Subcommittee. in addition to the leadership of the Full Committee for advancing this vital piece of legislation to the floor.