Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Commemorating The 15th Anniversary Of The Tragic Flight 3407 Plane Crash In Western NY And The Importance Of Passing The FAA Reauthorization
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor honoring the lives lost on Colgan Air Flight 3407 and the Senate’s efforts towards passing crucial aviation safety laws. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Later this afternoon, at a memorial on Long Street in Clarence, New York, the families of Colgan Air Flight 3407 will mark fifteen years since their loved ones tragically perished in a devastating plane crash.
In the blink of an eye, every single passenger, every single crew member, and one New Yorker on the ground were killed, on a freezing Thursday evening. It pains me that I can’t be in Western New York today for their vigil, but I want to tell the families that have lost loved ones, I am with you in spirit and will always be by your side.
Working with the families to change – to strengthen – America’s aviation laws has been one of the most satisfying and inspirational things I have done in my entire time in Congress. I have laughed and cried with the Kausners, the Eckerts, and so many of these wonderful people more times than I can count.
Today, from here on the Senate floor, I join with the families to remember those that we lost, and to honor their legacy—which has changed the course of American history when it comes to safety of our skies.
The scripture says in moments of darkness it is natural to turn inward, to curse the darkness, but that if you are able to light a candle, instead, that is saint like.
These families are saint like. They lost loved ones, the holes in their hearts exist every single day, but instead of turning inward to the darkness, they decided to light a candle and work diligently and persist and change the law, so it wouldn't happen to others in the future.
So, for fifteen years, instead of cursing the darkness, these families of the victims of Flight 3407 lit a candle. In their grief, the families came together. They organized and raised their voices.
I was proud to be their champion in the Senate to help pass the most significant aviation safety law of the 21st century in 2010.
I was moved by the families from the beginning. We worked hand in hand after the crash to fix our aviation safety laws, to make them the strongest in the world.
And when I became Majority Leader, I vowed to ensure these safety provisions the families fought for would not be rolled back.
Because of these families, airlines across America are safer. Praise God. We have not had a single fatal crash of a major airline in America since 2009. These families helped establish the 1,500 hour training rule that pilots must follow. They helped create a pilot records database, and new rules around pilot fatigue to help ensure that what happened on Flight 3407 never happens again.
These families’ advocacy is just what the founding fathers envisioned: average citizens with heartfelt convictions, persisting and getting it done. These families didn’t have campaign contributions, deep pockets or supers PACS. All they had was their convictions.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton would all be proud, because these families made Congress listen. They made Congress act. They changed the law. Their efforts have undoubtedly saved lives. And I want to thank so many of my colleagues, particularly Chair Cantwell and the head of the subcommittee, Senator Duckworth, for working with us to preserve this law.
So today we honor these families, and remember their loved ones. But we also acknowledge this fight is not done. The fight is one that will always continue.
The Senate Commerce Committee recently advanced a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill that protected rules for the safety of pilots, crew, and passengers that the families pushed for. And again, I thank Chairwoman Cantwell for her leadership and Chair Duckworth for her leadership as well.
We went through this text with a fine-tooth comb to make sure the safety rules were not touched, working hand in hand with the families, talking to them every week.
And I am glad we succeeded, and look forward to moving on the FAA reauthorization bill as quickly as possible. It is vital the FAA reauthorization be passed by Congress.
So, in conclusion on this issue, we remember those who are lost. We also say thank you to all the families for lighting the way, for finding a better way, a safer way for the future.
Thank you for your courage, your brilliance, and your grace. You’ve changed the history of aviation, something very few can say.
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