'American Skies Must Be As Safe As Possible': Ted Cruz Discusses Aviation Legislation

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke about airline safety legislation.

Transcript

00:00Well, good morning.

00:03Today is an auspicious day for aviation safety, a day marked, I hope, by a revived spirit

00:11of hope and a shared determination to act in the face of an unforgettable tragedy.

00:18American skies must be as safe as possible, and our duty as lawmakers is to ensure that

00:24they are.

00:25I would like to start by thanking the individuals who are joining me for the introduction of

00:31the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform, or the ROTOR Act.

00:37Secretary Duffy, Chairwoman Homendy, Tim and Sherry Lilly, Doug Lane, and my colleagues

00:46have all worked hard to make the American skies safer.

00:50Tim, Sherry, Doug, thank you for your courage and your advocacy.

00:58Your presence reminds us of what is at stake.

01:02You've turned your grief into purpose.

01:07We are here today because of your efforts in the memory of Tim and Sherry, your son Doug,

01:14your wife and son, and all of the loved ones who were lost over the Potomac.

01:23The ROTOR Act represents a common-sense step forward in aviation safety reform.

01:30One of the most important parts of this bill is the requirement that all aircraft, military

01:36and civilian, use both ADS-B out and ADS-B in.

01:43ADS-B is critical for aviation safety.

01:47This technology allows aircraft to broadcast their positions and to receive positions of

01:51others in real time, faster than other technology in use today.

01:58It gives pilots and air traffic control a clear view of what is happening in the skies.

02:05The NTS-B first recommended ADS-B in nearly 20 years ago.

02:13We are going to make that happen this year.

02:18Make no mistake, there cannot be a double standard in aviation safety.

02:24We should not tolerate special exceptions for military training flights operating in congested

02:30airspace.

02:32No matter the circumstances, any aircraft flying near commercial traffic must fully adhere to

02:40safety standards.

02:42Given the communications breakdown that led to the accident, it is also important to address

02:48helicopter routes in congested commercial airspace.

02:53We cannot have commercial airplanes and helicopters on a collision course ever again.

03:04This bill is based on two core principles, technological transparency and institutional responsibility.

03:12While American skies are among the safest globally, this safety is not always assured.

03:20I want to be clear.

03:24The Senate will lead this effort.

03:27We will not wait for another accident to happen before we act decisively to protect the American

03:34skies.

03:36We have made it abundantly clear that when American lives are at risk, excuses are not acceptable.

03:42However, this is about more than policy, it's about people.

03:47The families standing here, they didn't ask to be a part of this story.

03:53However, they stand with the courage to ensure that it has a better ending for others.

04:01This is the kind of legacy we should all aspire to build.