WASHINGTON (June 22, 2007) – Today, Congressman Ben Chandler offered his aviation safety bill, the FAA Aviation Safety Research Assessment Act of 2007, as an amendment to the House Science and Technology Committee’s bill on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) research and development.  This bill was approved by the Committee and will now move to the House floor for consideration.

“I am thrilled that the FAA Aviation Safety Research Assessment Act, which I just introduced last week, was agreed upon as an amendment to this larger bill.  This action means that the aviation safety bill no longer faces an uncertain timeline for consideration by the House of Representatives,” said Congressman Chandler.  “I am confident that, as an amendment to this larger bill, the aviation safety measure will have a better chance of becoming law.”

The House Science and Technology Committee, of which Congressman Chandler is a member, met today to consider H.R. 2698, the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007, which is the Science Committee’s component of the larger FAA Reauthorization legislation that will come before Congress later this year.  H.R. 2698 includes provisions aimed at strengthening the FAA’s research and development capabilities.  Congressman Chandler’s amendment was adopted by voice vote.

“This is the first step in ensuring that the FAA’s safety research and programs are examined thoroughly and have proper oversight so that Americans can be more confident in what we are doing to improve aviation safety in this country,” said Chandler.

Just two days earlier, Congressman Chandler submitted questions for the record to Mark Rosenker, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board; Margaret Gilligan, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety at the Federal Aviation Administration; and Gail Dunham, President of the National Air Disaster Alliance Foundation.  The questions reflect Congressman Chandler’s effort to continue pressing the FAA and the NTSB regarding the need for a true public hearing on the Comair crash, air traffic controller staffing and fatigue, and the FAA and NTSB’s lag in implementing much needed safety improvements.  The witnesses are required to provide written answers within two weeks.  These questions are in response to the witnesses’ testimonies at a House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on June 6, 2007.

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