LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION IN AMERICA'S AIRSPACE

On 2025-11-20, Representative Robert F. Onder, Jr. (R-MO-3) delivered a floor speech titled "LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION IN AMERICA'S AIRSPACE" in the House.

LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION IN AMERICA'S AIRSPACE

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)] [House] [Page H4853] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY AND COMMUNICATION IN AMERICA'S AIRSPACE (Mr. ONDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. ONDER. Mr. Speaker, I introduced today the House companion to Senator Ted Cruz' ROTOR Act, legislation that I believe, as a pilot, is essential to strengthening safety and communication in America's airspace. Earlier this year, the devastating collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter claimed 67 innocent lives. Among those on board was Asra Hussain, a neighbor of mine from the St. Louis region. Asra was a newlywed and a brilliant young professional whose life was ended far too soon. That disaster exposed troubling gaps in how Federal aircraft operate in complex airspace. The families who lost loved ones deserve answers, and the American people deserve swift action to rebuild trust in the safety of our skies. The ROTOR Act closes loopholes that allow military aircraft to disable location sharing during routine flights and requires aircraft in high-traffic airspace to use modern tracking and location-sharing technologies. This reform is backed by ATCs, pilots and, most importantly, the families forever changed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the ROTOR Act's timely safety reforms. ____________________