OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Standing with the Families of Colgan Flight 3407

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 3, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation Employment and Affirmative Action

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Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, next Friday will mark the seventh anniversary of the crash of Continental Colgan Flight 3407.

The cause of the accident was pilot error due to inexperience. The families of those who were lost fought for and won reforms that require pilots to be sufficiently experienced before they are entrusted with the safety of the flying public.

But regional airlines are trying to roll back these higher standards, claiming that they cannot find enough experienced pilots. That is simply not true. The airlines would see that if they increased starting salaries for pilots from $16,000 a year to a level commensurate with the responsibility they are given.

Yesterday the Western New York congressional delegation stood with the families to serve notice that we will relentlessly oppose any attempt to water down these reforms. We will honor those who died by ensuring that never again will our loved ones be entrusted with inexperienced pilots.

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