09.16.20

Cantwell Statement on House Investigation, Report on the 737 MAX

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement about the release of a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee investigation and report on the Boeing 737 MAX:

“Today’s report released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee underscores the critical need for stronger certification, transparency, and accountability for both the FAA and Boeing. It’s imperative for us to restore leadership in aviation safety.  I look forward to continuing to work with the House and our Senate colleagues of both parties to achieve the highest safety standards for aviation.”

Since the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, Cantwell has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to codify expert recommendations into law to improve aviation safety. In October 2019, she introduced a bill to implement aviation safety recommendations from the NTSB, U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT IG), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that seek to address challenges related to increased automation in commercial aircraft cockpits, as well as how pilots respond to flight deck alerts and uncommanded flight control inputs.

Earlier this year, she introduced legislation to strengthen Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of certification and improve aviation safety. She also sponsored bipartisan legislation to create one-year paid aerospace policy fellowship roles for graduate and post-graduate students in Congress, at the FAA, and in other federal agencies to help build a pool of talent conversant in emerging technologies for the FAA and Congress to draw from as they make policy in the aviation sector. And she introduced another bipartisan bill to authorize the FAA to work with other countries to strengthen pilot training standards and enable ICAO to further enhance worldwide aviation safety and training standards.

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