Political Quotes

“today I will introduce the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act which would require foreign air carriers to implement a disaster family assistance plan should an accident involving their carrier take place on American soil. As many of my colleagues know, the accident involving Korean Air flight 801 has spurred the momentum for this legislation. Two hundred and twenty-eight individuals perished from that tragic episode, and countless friends and families have been affected by the loss of a loved one. Various civil, military, and Federal personnel were involved in the search and rescue mission, as well as assisting family members on Guam and those who traveled from South Korea and the continental United States. Under the conditions at the time, all personnel contributed their time and energy to preserving life, searching for remains, and helping families cope with their grief. However, I do point out that there were many criticisms made on behalf of family members regarding the search and rescue efforts as well as media involvement in the aftermath of the Korean Air crash. My legislation will aim to coordinate the complex procedures associated with an airline accident. The foreign air carrier's clear delineation of responsibilities will clarify and streamline efforts when providing assistance to family members. This regulation is already required for our domestic airlines, as mandated in the passage of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996.”