Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Chair, I rise today in favor of my amendment to H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act.

Mr. Chair, 22 years ago this fall, our Nation watched in horror as senseless acts of terror were committed on American soil. That tragic day, our vulnerabilities were exposed when terrorists forcefully took control of passenger airplanes and fatally turned them into guided missiles.

We lost 2,977 mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, on that day. Mr. Chair, we also lost one of my constituents, Captain Victor J. Saracini, who was the pilot of United Flight 175, which was hijacked. The entire world watched in horror as that plane flew into the South Tower.

We also lost our misguided sense of protection in an increasingly dangerous world, as well.

Our Nation and this Congress resolved that after September 11 that we would take every action necessary to remember those we lost and to fulfill our promise and our solemn pledge of ``never again.''

Since coming to Congress, I have fought nonstop for the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on all commercial passenger aircraft. Alongside my constituent and friend, Ellen Saracini, and countless Members of Congress from both Chambers and both sides of the aisle, we have raised awareness and advocated for this measure to make our skies and our passengers and flight crews much more safe.

In 2018, Congress took one step in the right direction and included a rulemaking requirement for secondary barriers on newly manufactured aircraft.

Mr. Chair, my amendment today builds on that effort by directing the FAA to issue a final rule extending the requirement for secondary cockpit barriers to all commercial passenger aircraft. This commonsense, low-cost safety measure will protect the integrity of the flight deck and prevent dangerous and hostile individuals from accessing the cockpit.

Mr. Chair, Congress has a solemn obligation not just to the victims and survivors of 9/11 but to our pilots, to our flight crews, and to our passengers and their families to implement this safety measure on all commercial passenger aircraft as soon as possible.

I am grateful to my bipartisan colleagues, as well as Chairman Graves, the committee, and the amazing staff that serve on it for their support of this critical national security issue.

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Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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