Date: 2003-05-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 229 is an open rule. 13roviding for the consideration of H.R. 1527. the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act of 2003. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate. evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Finally. the rule provides one motion to recommit. with or without instructions. Obviously. this is a fair rule. It is a totally open rule. one that provides ample opportunity to debate this important reauthorization before us today. Last year. the House passed essentially the same bill by suspension. but the other body failed to consider the legislation. The House then must again act this year to ensure that the NTSB has the funding necessary to carry out its important tasks. The NTSB was established in 1967 as an independent agency with the task of investigating transportation accidents. conducting transportation safety studies. issuing recommendations. aiding victims families after disasters. and promoting general transportation safety. Since 1967. NTSB has investigated over 114.000 aviation accidents. The NTSBs constant participation In transportation safety. evidenced through 12.000 rcommendations to regulators. operators and users of transportation systems. has made them the government leader in crash investigation. I think what is even more impressive is that 82 percent of their recommendations have actually been adopted by these regulatory and transportation bodies. This bill will increase the effectiveness of the board by authorizing funding through fiscal year 2006 at levels necessary to carry out their investigative mission both here and at aviation disasters abroad. The bill requires that the Department of Transportation issue an annual report on the progress and adaptation of the boards safety recommendations. It is crucial that the Department of Transportation and that this Congress work to ensure that all recommendations are being met by the public. Finally. Mr. Speaker. the bill requires that the NTSB turn over their involvement in an aviation disaster to the FBI in the case of an intentional criminal act. This action would be taken by the Attorney General in consultation with the chairman of the NTSB. I think it is very important that in the event of any criminal aviation disaster. such as the one experienced during 9/11. 2001. the rescue of survivors obviously remain a first priority. but the apprehension of those involved coinmence immediately. H.R. 1527 is a good bill. important to the continued transportation safety of the Nation. in not only responding to accidents but taking steps. through recommendations. to prevent further tragedies. The underlying legislation was reported favorably out of committee by voice vote. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska for his extraordinary leadership on this issue. as well as his ranking member. the gentleman from Minnesota . Mr. Speaker. this important bill recognizes. by reauthorizing essential funding to the board. the importance of this activity charged with investigating tragedies and promoting transportation safety. This has been a bipartisan effort throughout the consideration of the bill. from consideration in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to this very obviously fair rule reported out of the Committee on Rules. which continues. I think. this constructive debate by allowing all amendments in order under the rule. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support both this important underlying legislation as well as the rule before us to bring it to the floor. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.