Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Madam President, today I am introducing the Protection from Abusive Passengers Act, a bill that is aimed at eliminating the rash of violence and abuse that is occurring on commercial flights across the country. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Representatives Eric Swalwell of California and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who are introducing companion legislation in the other body. The goal of our bill is to send a clear signal that individuals who engage in serious abusive or violent behavior on an aircraft or at an airport security checkpoint will be banned from flying.

In the last few years, we have seen an extraordinary increase in the number of cases of violence and abuse against crewmembers and airline passengers. In 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration received 2,456 reports of ``unruly passengers.'' Those complaints led to 831 investigations, a record 567 enforcement actions initiated, and a historic $8.45 million in proposed fines. That makes 2022 one of the most violent years in air travel since the FAA started tracking incidents in the mid-1990s, second only to 2021. While the numbers are trending down, we are still seeing some extraordinary dangerous and violent behavior.

In April 2022, the FAA proposed a record $81,950 fine against a passenger who tried to open the cockpit door on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Charlotte, struck and threatened multiple flight attendants, and continued to attempt to assault the crew and other passengers once restrained.

The FAA also proposed a $77,272 fine against a passenger on a Delta flight from Las Vegas who ``attempted to hug and kiss the passenger seated next to her; walked to the front of the aircraft to try to exit during flight; refused to return to her seat; and bit another passenger multiple times.''

Just this month, the Department of Justice reported the arrest of a passenger for allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door while aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston. During the incident, the passenger attempted to stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon, hitting the flight attendant on the neck area three times. Video of this disturbing assault went viral and was widely reported on.

In any setting, these actions would be shocking and unacceptable but on an airplane, such behavior also represents a danger to all passengers. Clearly, the existing regime of civil and criminal penalties have not been enough to deter this upsurge. We need to send a signal that such type of behavior will not be tolerated.

The Protection from Abusive Passengers Act would require the Transportation Security Administration to create and manage a program which bars passengers who are fined or convicted of abusive behavior and physical violence from flying. Transparency and notice will be provided to banned individuals, including guidelines for removal and opportunities for appeal. The bill would also permanently ban abusive passengers from participating in the TSA PreCheck or Customs' Global Entry Programs.

The bill provides appropriate fairness and due process by ensuring that only individuals who have been assessed civil or criminal penalty for abusive and violent behavior will be included on a list of banned fliers. The bill also requires the TSA to explain how it will maintain its list of banned fliers, provide an explanation of how long an individual may be barred from flying based on the severity of the offense, and set guidelines for an individual to appeal and seek removal from the list of banned fliers.

I believe this bill strikes the appropriate balance of assuring fairness and transparency while sending a strong signal that violent and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. I am pleased that the bill is supported by both airline industry leaders and labor unions, including Air Line Pilots Association; Association of Flight Attendants, CWA; Association of Professional Flight Attendants; Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO; Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO; Communications Workers of America, CWA; American Airlines; Delta Airlines; and Southwest Airlines. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this important bill. ______

By Mr. CARDIN:

S. 1061. A bill to prospectively repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

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