Date: 2011-03-31
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. at the end of debate. I intend to ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. First of all. let me indicate to my colleagues the importance of this issue. I served as the chairperson of the Transportation Security Committee on Homeland Security and I now serve as the ranking member. so I have lived through these issues of security for a very long time. From the tragic moments of 9/11 and the organization of our Homeland Security Committee as a select committee. and then the final committee. I have been involved in these issues. So my intent is to discuss why this is an important safety issue and an important security issue. Again. it is to recognize that our air traffic controllers are really our first responders. It is important to note that air traffic controllers are in rural airports. in small airports. and in our major airports. My amendment would specifically speak to the busiest airports. those airports that could document on an annual basis the amount of passengers at that airport. such as Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Texas. that is number eight. Commercial aircraft. for example. always have at least two pilots for long hauls. Sometimes there are three for long hauls. Why would we not have the same standards for air traffic controllers? I believe it is important to ensure the safety of the American public. There are notorious incidents that involve pilot fatigue. but there are also incidents that reflect upon the lack of air traffic controllers. I commend Secretary LaHood for ordering a second air traffic controller to be on duty. in particular. overnight at the National Airport. And I want to make the point that we are not demonizing air traffic controllers. because if you know the story. you know the individual that fell asleep had been on duty for three nights in a row. The Secretarys action evidences that there is no current mandate for multiple air traffic controllers. There is legislation in the Senate and there is language in the House bill that deals with the study. I frankly believe that we should have a more firm assessment. having a minimum of three. and at least two air traffic controllers to address this question. Why do I say that? The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and their president have indicated oneperson shifts are unsafe. period. The most horrifying proof of this. of course. came on August 27. 2006. In addition. it has been in the air traffic controllers mission to have at least two people on staff or as air traffic controllers for most of their existence. So I stand today saying that it is important that we have trained air traffic controllers. They are called certified professional controllers. But in the top 20 airports. I must ask the question: Why do we have a structure that doesnt require minimally three. at least two. and at least. if you will. would have the individual there at all times who has not been on duty for three nights in a row? I think that this is an important step. and I would ask my colleagues to work with me as we go forward to ensure the safety and security of the Nations skies. We are all working together. and I look forward prospectively to looking at legislation. longterm. that addresses this issue of safety and security in the Nations air traffic control towers. They are our public servants. Mr. Chair. my amendment calls for staffing minimums of no fewer than three air traffic controllers on duty during the period of airfield operations at the 20 busiest airports in the country. We have all heard about the air traffic Supervisor who reportedly fell asleep on the job last week. forcing two airliners carrying more than 150 passengers and crew to land without direction at National Airport. It is a blessing that the pilots had the wherewithal to handle the situation safely. securely. and without incident. but this has highlighted a serious safety and security issue in our aviation system. Although the Supervisor at National Airport was certified to perform air traffic control. the fact that a Supervisor for the FAA who is responsible for managing air traffic controllers was working alone without any frontline air traffic controller(s) on duty. is shocking in itself. What is more shocking is that this was his fourth 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift in a row. according to USA Today. This is not the first incident at National Airport. where a traffic control tower was left unmanned for an extended period of time. The vast majority of air traffic controllers are hard working dedicated individuals. 365 days a year. air traffic controllers ensure that we have the safest aviation system in the world. But Mr. Chair. we are all human and mishaps occur. which is why in the aviation system we use multiple layers and duplication to ensure for the safety of the public and the crew. Commercial aircraft always have at least two pilots. and for long haul flights. there are three. Why would we not have similar standards for air traffic controllers performing an equally critical function? Think about the people flying on the planes across our country. They our our grandmothers. husbands. wives and babies. They are American passangers and their lives have value. To ensure their safety we must insist that Certified Professional Controllers (CPC) are always in the tower. We must set a reasonable minimum standard. I commend Secretary LaHood for ordering a second air traffic controller to be on duty overnight at National Airport. However. the Secretarys action simply evidences that there is no current mandate for multiple air traffic controllers. The Secretary stated. "It is not acceptable to have just one controller in the tower managing air traffic in this critical air space. I have also asked FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt to study staffing levels at other airports around the country." My amendment calls for a minimum of three air traffic controllers in the tower during hours of airfield operation at the Nations busiest airports. After 9/11. we witnessed the vital importance of air traffic controllers in protecting our domestic airspace. Air Traffic Controllers also known as Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs) are part of our front line of defense to protect and ensure the safety of our airspace. In the shocking aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. it was air traffic controllers who monitored the air space above our nation to help keep us safe from further attacks. Our system is clearly not impervious to the effects of human error. and all it takes is one accident for us to regret not taking the proper action on this amendment. We must not forget the people who are the passengers in those planes that fly above American skies. They are our grandmothers. grandfathers. husbands. wives and children. They are American passengers and their lives have value. To ensure their safety we must insist that air traffic controllers are provided with proper staffing levels to do their important and necessary jobs of keeping Americans safe. Mr. Chair. let me end by quoting from a statement released by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association which says: "Oneperson shifts are unsafe. Period. The most horrifying proof of this came on Aug. 27. 2006. when 49 people lost their lives aboard Comair Flight 191 in Lexington. Ky.. when there was only one controller assigned to duty in the tower handling multiple controllers responsibilities alone. One person staffing was wrong then and its wrong now." Mr. Chair. my amendment is essential to ensure that we continue to have the safest and most secure aviation system in the world. and I urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.