Richard L. Hanna: “I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3578, which would require the FAA to…”

“I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3578, which would require the FAA to conduct a formal rulemaking process for sleep apnea certifications for pilots and air traffic controllers. As a member of both the Small Business Committee and the Transportation Committee and as a pilot, I am deeply concerned that complex Federal regulations and bureaucracy are hurting America's aviation industry. When deemed absolutely necessary, new FAA rules should follow a transparent and open process that includes strong oversight and input from all stakeholders. The proposed sleep apnea regulation was a broad administration guidance with no oversight or input. Furthermore, this is yet another example of the administration's regulating in search of a problem. According to the Civil Aviation Medical Association, there is no scientific evidence that sleep apnea has compromised aviation safety. According to yesterday's Washington Post, the number of small planes flying across this country has fallen by nearly 200,000 since 1980. The production of single-engine airplanes has fallen twentyfold to below 700 per year. We need to ensure that any regulations help, not hinder, the aviation industry in growing and prospering. Across the Nation, nearly 1.2 million workers depend on the general aviation industry. This is especially true in rural upstate New York.…”