Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the ALERT Act, and I thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, Air Line Pilots Association, International, the Association of Flight Attendants, Jennifer Homendy and the NTSB staff, T&I members, and mostly the families who put such passion and advocacy into getting this bill right. It was not easy, but it is so very important that we made progress to align the bill with the NTSB's recommendation. Again, I just acknowledge that without the family members advocating on behalf of the loved ones they lost on January 29, we wouldn't be here today. They should not have to keep coming back into this room. They should not have to listen to Member after Member say what everyone knows, that this was preventable. The NTSB found that the ADS-B In system could have provided up to 59 seconds of warning. That is what makes it so hard to hear that the Board has been ambiguous about this. It has been recommending this kind of requirement for years, 17 times since 2006. The requirements here should be clear: ensure all aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out carry ADS-B In with cockpit display of traffic information, and ensure that happens on a firm, enforceable timeline without any carve-outs. We should write that into law and not leave it to some later process, delay, or direction. Members on both sides of the aisle recognize we have a duty to all Americans to put aside our differences and keep them safe.”