Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019,'' to protect commercial airline passengers and crew from toxic air onboard commercial aircraft.

All Americans have the right to expect safe, clean air when travelling or reporting to work. I am deeply concerned by the documented cases where pilots, flight attendants, and other airline crewmembers have been incapacitated or even hospitalized following exposure to toxic cabin air.

The ``Cabin Air Safety Act'' takes commonsense steps to protect airline passengers and crew, including installing carbon monoxide detectors in commercial aircraft. I thank Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) for leading this bill last Congress and look forward to working with him to advance this critical legislation.

``Toxic fume'' events occur when air contaminated by engine exhaust, fuel fumes, deicing fluids, and ozone enters the aircraft cabin through the jet-engine intake. Exposure to even low levels of these contaminants can incapacitate passengers and crew and long-term exposure could lead to serious, debilitating health issues.

Our bicameral legislation would better protect airline passengers and crew by: mandating training regarding toxic fumes on aircraft, requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to record and monitor reports of toxic fume events, ensuring that investigations occur following toxic fume events, and installing carbon monoxide sensors on aircraft.

Senator Blumenthal's and my legislation is endorsed by the Air Line Pilots Association International, Association of Flight Attendants, Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, International Union of Teamsters, National Consumers League, Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to cosponsor the ``Cabin Air Safety Act.''

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