Rep. Corrine Brown: “yesterday's plane crash was another devastating blow to the residents of New York and the citizens of this great Nation.…”

“yesterday's plane crash was another devastating blow to the residents of New York and the citizens of this great Nation. Although we do not know the cause yet, I have been hearing it called a ``routine plane crash.'' I want to repeat that, a routine plane crash. God help us all if we ever accept a plane crash as routine. I was in New York yesterday, and I had to take the train back to Washington. In fact, I chose to take the train back to Washington. I was talking to the train conductor who said that U.S. lawmakers have failed the American public. This is what our citizens think of this House and this Congress. How many planes must go down before we truly deal with safety? Not just who screens the baggage but the safety of the entire transportation system, including ports, rail, bridges, tunnels and, maybe after yesterday, more thorough safety inspections for airplanes. Does this country and this Congress have to wait until another disaster strikes again to act to protect our transportation infrastructure? We do not want the American people to feel that we have failed them. I do not hold out much hope, but I am asking the conferees to support the other body's version of airline security so that we can move on to other areas of homeland security.”