On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
I am pleased to join with my colleague and friend Senator Boxer to hail the inclusion of the passengers' bill of rights in the reauthorization of the FAA. We have worked together for 5 years to protect passengers, and moving the passengers' bill of rights off the ``to-do'' list and into law will be a victory for the traveling public. Senator Boxer and I have worked diligently as far back as the spring of 2007 to move this essential safety measure forward. Last year's passage of the FAA reauthorization bill brought us closer to our goal, but the legislation expired as the House and Senate grappled with other issues. Undeterred, Senator Boxer and I continued to stand up for this common sense safety and consumer protection proposal. Make no mistake, providing airline travelers with access to food, water, restrooms, and medication is not just an issue of comfort-- passengers who are pregnant, elderly, or ill require access to clean water and appropriate facilities--and no passenger should be held against their will just steps from an airport facility. When passengers are able to safely deplane in the event of a delay, they absolutely should be given the choice to do so. This proposal ensures that passengers are given the right to get off a plane after 3 hours of delay on the tarmac.
