September 6, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6269 Spelman College has prepared more than (2) honors the victims of the crash: Re- Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the House six generations of African American women to becca Adams, Christina Anderson, Lyle An- Aviation Subcommittee, I want to as- reach the highest levels of academic, commu- derson, Arnold Andrews, Anne Marie Bailey, sure the traveling public and my col- nity, and professional achievement. Bobbie Benton, Jesse Clark Benton, Carole leagues that the National Transpor- Spelman College continues to pave the way Bizzack, George Brunacini, Brian Byrd, Jef- frey Clay, Homer Combs, Diane Combs, Fen- tation Safety Board is now and will for new generations of African American stu- ton Dawson, Thomas Fahey, Mike Finley, continue to thoroughly investigate dents. The college offers competitive and high Clarence Wayne ‘‘C.W.’’ Fortney II, Wade every aspect of this accident. Any pre- quality academic programs in liberal arts, hu- Bartley ‘‘Bart’’ Frederick, Hollie Gilbert, sumption on the cause or causes of this manities, sciences, communications, and engi- Erik Harris, Kelly Heyer, Jonathan Hooker, accident at this stage are purely specu- neering, to name just a few. Scarlett Parsley Hooker, Priscilla Johnson, lative, and at this time I think it The Association of Medical Colleges ranks Tetsuya Kono, Nahoko Kono, Charles should be definitely left to the profes- Spelman College fifth among undergraduate Lykins, Dan Mallory, Steve McElravy, sional investigative abilities of the Lynda McKee, Bobby Meaux, Leslie Morris programs for Black students accepted to med- NTSB. It is their responsibility in fact ical school, and Spelman is one of six institu- II, Kaye Craig Morris, Cecile Moscoe, Judy Ann Rains, Michael Ryan, Mary Jane Silas, to determine the circumstances and tions designated by the National Science cause, and they will report back to Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Pat Smith, Tim Snoddy, Marcie Thomason, Greg Threet, Randy Towles, Larry Turner, Congress. Space Administration as a Model Institution for Victoria Washington, Jeff Williams, Paige I can also assure the families, the Excellence in undergraduate science and Winters, Bryan Woodward, JoAnn Wright, public, and Members of Congress that math education. and Betty Young; those charged with the investigation of I urge my colleagues to support the (3) expresses sympathies to the people of this tragedy will not rest until the achievements of this institution, and support Lexington, the entire Commonwealth of Ken- this resolution honoring the 125th anniversary tucky, and the Nation who grieve for the vic- cause of this aviation crash has been fi- of Spelman College. tims; nally determined. I have no further requests for time, (4) commends the heroic actions of the res- While even the loss of one life in an and I yield back the balance of my cue workers at the crash site who retrieved aviation accident is unacceptable, the time. copilot James M. Polehinke from the wreck- public should know, Members of Con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The age; and gress should know, and those who trav- question is on the motion offered by (5) commends the Federal, State, and local el should know that our commercial officials and the volunteers who worked to- airlines today are both safe and also re- the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. gether to respond to the tragedy with cour- PRICE) that the House suspend the age, determination, and skill. liable. Since 2001, more than 4 billion rules and agree to the resolution, H. passengers have flown safely on U.S. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Res. 875, as amended. commercial airliners with the lowest ant to the rule, the gentleman from The question was taken. fatality accident rate in history. Florida (Mr. MICA) and the gentleman The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Mr. Speaker, it is important to note from Kentucky (Mr. CHANDLER) each opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of that on a typical weekday, just one day will control 20 minutes. those present have voted in the affirm- like today, there are an average of ative. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. some 33,000 commercial airline takeoffs Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, and landings at airports of general on that I demand the yeas and nays. GENERAL LEAVE Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- aviation across the country, and al- The yeas and nays were ordered. most all of them, again with large com- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- mous consent that all Members may mercial aircraft since November 12, ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the have 5 legislative days in which to re- 2001, have done so safely. Despite this Chair’s prior announcement, further vise and extend their remarks and in- proceedings on this question will be clude extraneous material on House amazing safety record, I wish we all postponed. Resolution 980. lived in a world where we could elimi- nate all accidents and all risks. While I f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gen- do not believe that we can do that, I do EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO tleman from Florida? sincerely believe that we can continue FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND LOVED There was no objection. to work together to do everything hu- ONES OF VICTIMS OF CRASH OF Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- manly possible to avoid these types of COMAIR FLIGHT 5191 self such time as I may consume. accidents in the future. Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong Again, I want to express my heartfelt suspend the rules and agree to the reso- support of this resolution today that is condolences to the families, friends, lution (H. Res. 980) expressing condo- being introduced by my good friend and and loved ones of the victims on board lences to the families, friends, and colleague from Kentucky (Mr. CHAN- Flight 5191, also to Mr. CHANDLER, a loved ones of the victims of the crash DLER). good friend and distinguished colleague of Comair Flight 5191, and for other This resolution, H. Res. 980, expresses from Kentucky, and his constituents. purposes. condolences to the families, friends, He told me he lost a number of per- The Clerk read as follows: and loved ones of the victims of the sonal friends and a large number of H. RES. 980 August 27, 2006, aircraft accident of constituents in this unfortunate avia- Whereas the people of Kentucky, including Flight 5191, which took place in Lex- tion tragedy. Again, my condolences to the citizens of the 6th Congressional Dis- ington, Kentucky. There were 50 people all affected. trict, have experienced a terrible tragedy on board Flight 5191, including pas- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of with the loss of 49 lives in the crash of sengers and crew, with one individual my time. Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in surviving the crash, Copilot James Lexington, Kentucky, on August 27, 2006; Polehinke, who is currently recovering, b 1630 Whereas many of the victims of the crash and we wish him Godspeed in his recov- Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield were residents of Kentucky, particularly of ery. myself such time as I may consume. the small, close-knit town of Lexington and Mr. Speaker, I want to say that my Mr. Speaker, I would like to first other surrounding communities; and Whereas Federal, State, and local officials heartfelt sympathy goes out to the vic- thank my friend and colleague, the have cooperated not only at the crash site tims and to each and every one of their gentleman from Florida (Mr. MICA) for but throughout Kentucky and the Nation to families, friends, and loved ones. Los- his good wishes and for his efforts as respond to the emergency, investigate the ing a loved one is always very tragic, chairman of the Aviation Sub- accident, and provide assistance to families but I think it is compounded when such committee to help with promoting devastated by the loss of loved ones: Now, a loss is the result of an unfortunate safety in the air throughout this coun- therefore, be it and unforeseen situation. I am hopeful try. I appreciate those efforts very Resolved, That the House of Representa- tives— that this resolution will in some small much, and I appreciate his help with (1) expresses condolences to the families, way help to comfort the families and this resolution. friends, and loved ones of the victims of the friends of all those who lost their lives Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a crash of Comair Flight 5191; on Flight 5191. heavy heart for Kentuckians who have

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Mr. Speaker, I yield my- While we will not know the probable cause On August 27, 2006, Comair Flight self such time as I may consume. of the Conair crash until the National Trans- 5191 crashed upon take off at Blue Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to ex- portation Safety Board, NTSB, completes its Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, tend my condolences to all the family, investigation, serious questions have been killing 49 of the 50 people aboard. friends and loved ones of those who lost raised regarding the Federal Aviation Adminis- Twenty-eight of the victims lived in their loved ones on Flight 5191 in Lex- tration’s, FAA, air traffic control staffing poli- the district I represent, and several ington, Kentucky. cies. The FAA confirmed that the air traffic other passengers were fellow Kentuck- I also want to express my condo- control tower at the Blue Grass Airport was ians. Fathers and mothers, daughters lences to Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. CHANDLER understaffed at the time of the accident. and sons, brothers and sisters, hus- is a member of the Transportation and Mr. Speaker, air traffic controllers are es- bands and wives, all perished in the Infrastructure Committee. I particu- sential to the safe operation of our nation’s air worst plane crash this country has seen larly want to again thank him for the traffic system, and the effectiveness of control- since 2001. way he has handled himself in this lers requires proper staffing levels at each fa- The small, close-knit town of Lex- matter. cility. ington and the surrounding commu- Mr. CHANDLER has been a spokes- Inadequate staffing during periods of low nities of Central Kentucky will forever person for those who have lost their traffic is not a new problem. It was reported be changed by the scenes from early loved ones in this tragedy. He has also that in November 2005, an overloaded con- that Sunday morning and by the sud- yielded to appropriate manners of reso- troller at the Raleigh, North Carolina airport di- den loss of family, friends, neighbors lution to determine what caused this rected two planes too close to one another, and community leaders. Almost every- crash, and I appreciate his leadership and this close call prompted the FAA to issue one in central Kentucky knew someone on the committee and on this issue. guidance forbidding air traffic controllers with on that plane. The loss is a community It is critical that we do find the certain responsibilities from working alone. loss, but also a profoundly personal cause of aviation crashes and incidents After the Lexington accident, the FAA stated loss for those of us who remain. and that we take preventative meas- that some air traffic control towers responsible I am here today to honor the victims ures, and that is something that has for surface traffic also separate airborne air- of this horrible crash by urging this been very much my intention as chair- craft using radar equipment, contrary to FAA body to pass House Resolution 980, ex- man of the Aviation Subcommittee. In guidance to provide individual controllers for pressing the condolences of this body fact, we have changed some procedures the radar and control tower functions. It is not to all who grieve during this time and to accomplish that goal. clear whether this guidance is written or commending all of those who responded One of the provisions of the law that verbal. The FAA statement further indicates to this tragedy with courage and deter- we changed now requires NTSB to con- that this guidance was not followed at the Lex- mination. tinue corrective measures. In the past ington tower where the manager decided to It is also important that today we re- the NTSB would investigate these acci- have one controller handle both functions dur- member copilot James Polehinke, who dents. A recommendation would be ing the overnight shift. Moreover, further inves- was the only person on board who sur- made, findings would be made, but they tigation has revealed that the Lexington tower vived the tragedy. He is currently re- just sort of stayed on the shelf. That is was not an anomaly; other tower managers covering, and we certainly wish him no longer the case. Today recommenda- across the country routinely chose not to staff the very best. tions from these accidents are not left their towers adequately, and the FAA was ei- Mr. Speaker, I am sure there will on the shelf, where causes and risks ther unaware of these deviations or unwilling come a day when this body will address would not be addressed. Recommenda- to crack down until after the Lexington trag- the causes of this tragedy, particularly tions now must be followed through edy. if there are measures to be taken to and brought back to the Congress and The FAA’s inconsistency in applying its own prevent future accidents. At this time, measures taken to correct any of the controller staffing policy is very troubling. That however, the thing we must do is me- errors or institute appropriate rem- is why Representatives COSTELLO, CHANDLER morialize those that we have lost. edies that are recommended by the and I have requested that the Department of All of Kentucky is still grieving as NTSB. Transportation’s Inspector General, IG, inves- families continue to say goodbye to Again, I am pleased that Mr. CHAN- tigate how widely the staffing experience at loved ones. The following are the vic- DLER comes before the House today to the Blue Grass Airport is practiced at other air tims whose lives were cut short by this remember those lost in this incident traffic control facilities across the Nation and horrible tragedy: and that he has also been supportive of determine the extent to which the towers cov- Rebecca Adams; Christina Anderson; having the NTSB thoroughly inves- ered by the guidance are complying with it. Lyle Anderson; Arnold Andrews; Anne tigate this crash. We give assurances to Importantly, we have requested that the IG in- Marie Bailey; Bobbie Benton; Jesse the loved ones and others that due vestigate the steps that FAA undertook after Clark Benton; Carol Bizzack; George course and due process will be followed the Raleigh incident to review staffing at its fa- Brunacini; Brian Byrd; Jeffrey Clay; and a full review and determination of cilities to determine if the facilities were com- Homer Combs; Diane Combs; Fenton the cause of this horrible aviation acci- plying with the guidance, and to require com- Dawson; Thomas Fahey; Mike Finley; dent and tragedy will be made so that pliance if they were not. Clarence Wayne ‘‘C.W.’’ Fortney, II; we will know how to prevent similar While it will be some time before the NTSB Wade Bartley ‘‘Bart’’ Frederick; Hollie accidents in the future, and we will be completes its investigation into the probable Gilbert; Erik Harris; Kelly Heyer; Jon- able to correct these deficiencies. causes of the Conair Flight 5191 crash, we athan Hooker; Scarlett Parsley Hook- Again, to Mr. CHANDLER, to all those should waste no time in ensuring that the FAA er; Priscilla Johnson; Tetsuya Kono; who suffered loss, we extend our condo- consistently applies its controller staffing poli- Nahoko Kono; Charles Lykins; Dan lences, and I ask the House to concur cies across our Nation’s air traffic control tow- Mallory; Steve McElravy; Linda in adoption of House Resolution 980, ers. McKee; Bobby Meaux; Leslie Morris, II; sponsored by the gentleman. Finally, and most importantly, Mr. Speaker, Kaye Craig Morris; Cecile Moscoe; Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in I want to express my condolences to the fami- Judy Ann Rains; Michael Ryan; Mary strong support of H. Res. 980, which formally lies and friends of the Flight 5191 passengers, Jane Silas; Pat Smith; Tim Snoddy; expresses Congress’ condolences to the fami- and I urge my colleagues to support this reso- Marcie Thomason; Greg Threet; Randy lies and friends of the 49 passengers who per- lution. Towles; Larry Turner; Victoria Wash- ished in the August 27, 2006 crash of Conair Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ington; Jeff Williams; Paige Winters; Flight 5191 at the Blue Grass Airport in Lex- I rise today to support this resolution express- Bryan Woodward; JoAnn Wright; and ington, Kentucky. ing condolences to the families, friends, and Betty Young. H. Res. 980 not only expresses the condo- loved ones of the victims of the crash of Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge this lences for the lives lost, but also honors those Comair Flight 5191. body to honor these victims by passing rescue workers and personnel at the crash It should come as a sobering fact that this H. Res. 980. site, as well as the Federal, State and local of- is the worst aviation crash our country has

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:10 Nov 16, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\RECORDCX\T37X$J0E\H06SE6.REC H06SE6 mmaher on PROD1PC70 with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 6, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6271 seen since 2001. The crash occurred on ordering of the yeas and nays be va- Castle Hooley Musgrave Chabot Hostettler Myrick Comair Flight 5191 upon take-off at 6:07 am cated with respect to the motion to Chandler Hoyer Napolitano at Blue Grass Airport, in Lexington, KY. The suspend the rules and adopt H. Res. 912 Chocola Hulshof Neal (MA) flight was en route to Atlanta, GA. to the end that the Chair put the ques- Clay Hunter Neugebauer All but one of the 50 people on board, in- tion de novo. Cleaver Hyde Ney Clyburn Inglis (SC) Northup cluding passengers and crew, died. The only The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Coble Inslee Norwood individual who survived the crash, copilot objection to the request of the gen- Cole (OK) Israel Oberstar James M. Polehinke, is recovering at Chandler tleman from Kentucky? Conaway Issa Obey Conyers Jackson (IL) Olver Medical Center, in Lexington, Kentucky, and There was no objection. Cooper Jackson-Lee Ortiz we wish him a speedy recovery. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Costa (TX) Osborne Many individuals and entities who re- question is on the motion offered by Cramer Jefferson Otter sponded to the disaster acted nobly, coopera- the gentlewoman from North Carolina Crenshaw Jenkins Owens Crowley Jindal Oxley tively, and admirably. Federal, state, and local (Ms. FOXX) that the House suspend the Cubin Johnson (CT) Pascrell officials and volunteers were soon on the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Cuellar Johnson (IL) Pastor scene, and I applaud their efforts. Res. 912. Culberson Johnson, E. B. Paul Cummings Jones (NC) Payne However, this was clearly a mistake, and an The question was taken; and (two- Davis (AL) Jones (OH) Pearce accident that should never have occurred. We thirds having voted in favor thereof) Davis (CA) Kanjorski Pelosi desperately need adequate and rigorous over- the rules were suspended and the reso- Davis (IL) Kaptur Pence sight to ensure the operational safety of every lution was agreed to. Davis (TN) Keller Peterson (MN) Davis, Jo Ann Kelly Petri commercial flight in this country. Air control A motion to reconsider was laid on Davis, Tom Kennedy (MN) Pickering towers across the country are currently short- the table. Deal (GA) Kennedy (RI) Pitts staffed. Since September 2003, the number of DeFazio Kildee Platts f DeGette Kilpatrick (MI) Poe air traffic controllers has plummeted from Delahunt Kind Pombo 15,386 to 14,305 in August 2006. Moreover, at ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER DeLauro King (IA) Pomeroy the time of this tragic accident, there was only PRO TEMPORE Dent King (NY) Porter one air traffic controller present, which is a Diaz-Balart, L. Kingston Price (GA) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Diaz-Balart, M. Kirk Price (NC) violation of FAA guidelines which mandate at ant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings Dicks Kline Pryce (OH) least two air traffic controllers be present. will resume on motions to suspend the Dingell Knollenberg Putnam At the heart of every oversight issue is in- Doggett Kolbe Radanovich rules previously postponed. Doolittle Kucinich Rahall evitably a funding issue Funds must be pro- Votes will be taken in the following Dreier Kuhl (NY) Ramstad vided and managed effectively and efficiently order: Duncan LaHood Rangel Edwards Langevin Regula in order to make sure that there exists a suffi- H.R. 2808, by the yeas and nays; cient level of trained air traffic controllers en- Ehlers Lantos Rehberg H. Res. 605, by the yeas and nays; Emanuel Larsen (WA) Reichert suring the safety of air travel. H. Res. 875, by the yeas and nays. Emerson Larson (CT) Renzi I offer my sympathy to the good citizens of The first and third electronic votes English (PA) Latham Reyes Kentucky, and I join Mr. CHANDLER in mourn- Eshoo LaTourette Reynolds will be conducted as 15-minute votes. Etheridge Leach Rogers (AL) ing those lost and honoring their memory. I The second vote in this series will be a Everett Lee Rogers (KY) encourage my colleagues to support this reso- 5-minute vote. Farr Levin Rogers (MI) lution. Fattah Lewis (CA) Rohrabacher Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance f Ferguson Lewis (GA) Ros-Lehtinen Filner Lewis (KY) Ross of my time. ABRAHAM LINCOLN Fitzpatrick (PA) Linder Rothman The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Flake Lipinski Roybal-Allard question is on the motion offered by COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT Foley LoBiondo Royce The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Forbes Lofgren, Zoe Ruppersberger the gentleman from Florida (Mr. MICA) Ford Lowey Ryan (OH) that the House suspend the rules and pending business is the question of sus- Fortenberry Lucas Ryan (WI) agree to the resolution, H. Res. 980. pending the rules and passing the bill, Fossella Lungren, Daniel Ryun (KS) The question was taken; and (two- H.R. 2808, as amended. Foxx E. Sabo Frank (MA) Lynch Salazar thirds having voted in favor thereof) The Clerk read the title of the bill. Franks (AZ) Mack Sanders the rules were suspended and the reso- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Frelinghuysen Maloney Saxton lution was agreed to. question is on the motion offered by Garrett (NJ) Manzullo Schakowsky the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Gerlach Marchant Schiff A motion to reconsider was laid on Gibbons Markey Schmidt the table. BIGGERT) that the House suspend the Gilchrest Marshall Schwartz (PA) f rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2808, as Gillmor Matheson Schwarz (MI) amended, on which the yeas and nays Gingrey Matsui Scott (GA) RECESS Gohmert McCarthy Scott (VA) are ordered. Gonzalez McCaul (TX) Sensenbrenner The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- The vote was taken by electronic de- Goode McCollum (MN) Serrano ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair vice, and there were—yeas 401, nays 0, Goodlatte McCotter Sessions not voting 31, as follows: Gordon McCrery Shadegg declares the House in recess until ap- Granger McDermott Shaw proximately 6:30 p.m. today. [Roll No. 427] Graves McGovern Shays Accordingly (at 4 o’clock and 40 min- YEAS—401 Green, Al McHugh Sherman utes p.m.), the House stood in recess Green, Gene McIntyre Sherwood Abercrombie Biggert Brown (SC) Grijalva McKeon Shimkus until approximately 6:30 p.m. Ackerman Bilbray Brown, Corrine Gutknecht McMorris Shuster Aderholt Bishop (GA) Brown-Waite, f Hall Rodgers Simmons Akin Bishop (NY) Ginny Harman McNulty Simpson b 1830 Alexander Bishop (UT) Burgess Hart Meehan Skelton Allen Blackburn Burton (IN) Hastings (FL) Meek (FL) Slaughter AFTER RECESS Andrews Blumenauer Butterfield Hastings (WA) Melancon Smith (NJ) Baca Blunt Buyer Hayes Mica Smith (TX) The recess having expired, the House Bachus Boehlert Calvert Hayworth Michaud Smith (WA) was called to order by the Speaker pro Baird Boehner Camp (MI) Hefley Millender- Snyder Baker Bonilla Campbell (CA) tempore (Mr. BONNER) at 6 o’clock and Hensarling McDonald Sodrel Baldwin Bonner Cannon Herger Miller (FL) Solis 30 minutes p.m. Barrett (SC) Bono Cantor Herseth Miller (MI) Souder Barrow Boozman Capito f Higgins Miller (NC) Spratt Bartlett (MD) Boren Capps Hinchey Miller, George Stark SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND Barton (TX) Boswell Capuano Hinojosa Mollohan Stearns Bass Boustany Cardin IDEALS OF NATIONAL LIFE IN- Hobson Moore (KS) Strickland Bean Boyd Cardoza Hoekstra Moore (WI) Stupak SURANCE AWARENESS MONTH Becerra Bradley (NH) Carnahan Holden Moran (KS) Sullivan Berkley Brady (PA) Carson Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speak- Holt Moran (VA) Sweeney Berman Brady (TX) Carter Honda Murphy Tancredo er, I ask unanimous consent that the Berry Brown (OH) Case

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