REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION NORMAN Y. MINETA
ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS RECEPTION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
JUNE 12, 2001
Thank you for that warm welcome. It’s always good to see so many long-time friends… and to make new ones.
I have long enjoyed a good working relationship with AFA. During my tenure as chairman of the House Transportation Committee, I had the distinct pleasure of working with your organization, and others, to pass legislation regarding flight attendant duty time.
I’m sorry your president, Pat Friend, had other obligations this evening. Her efforts, and yours, on behalf of the more than 50,000 members of AFA give you an important voice on Capitol Hill.
My wife, Deni, is here with me this evening. As most of you know, she worked as a flight attendant for more than three decades, and was a loyal AFA member.
So, I understand that flight attendants are on the front lines of American commercial aviation safety. In a very real sense, you are the face of the airlines for the traveling public. Therefore, you play a vital role in addressing the challenges we face.
President Bush has asked me to work with the aviation community and the Congress to develop a plan to increase system capacity, and do it in a way that does not compromise the overall safety of the industry, or the health of passengers and airline employees.
To that end, DOT will continue working in partnership with OSHA, and organizations such as the AFA, to reduce health and safety hazards in aircraft cabins. We will look closely at the upcoming National Academy of Science’s report to Congress on aircraft air quality.
We understand the critical role played by flight attendants in preventing activities that threaten the health or safety of passengers and crew. The last Congress recognized that airline employees need to be able to enforce safety procedures free from the fear of reprisal. We look forward to working with you in the coming months to implement these whistleblower protections.
We face a number of challenges if we want our commercial aviation system to keep pace with the demands America will place on it in the years ahead. I know we can rise to these challenges if we will all commit to working together on creative, visionary solutions.
Every stakeholder in the process -- whether passengers, flight attendants, pilots, air traffic controllers, airlines, manufacturers, airport managers, or local residents -- comes to the table with a unique perspective and legitimate concerns.
Going forward, I ask you to remember we all have a shared interest in creating a safer, more efficient aviation system. We all own a piece of the problem -- and I know we all have a piece of the solution.
Flight attendants have earned an important and rightful voice in the policymaking process, thanks in no small measure to the AFA, and your efforts on behalf of your members. I look forward to working with you in the coming months.
Thank you, and good night.
# # # #