EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE CRASH OF AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 5342 AND PAT 25

On 2025-03-03, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-3) delivered a floor speech titled "EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE CRASH OF AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 534" in the House. The speech addressed gun policy and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HRES153.

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE CRASH OF AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 5342 AND PAT 25

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 40 (Monday, March 3, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 40 (Monday, March 3, 2025)] [House] [Pages H935-H937] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE CRASH OF AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT 5342 AND PAT 25 Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 153) expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 153 Whereas the people of Wichita, Kansas, and the people of the National Capital Region have experienced a terrible tragedy with the loss of 67 lives in the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army flight callsign ``PAT 25'' near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, District of Columbia, on January 29, 2025; Whereas many of the victims of the crash were residents of, or connected to, Wichita, Kansas, colloquially known as the ``Air Capital of the World'' for the city's historic role in aviation; and Whereas many Federal, State, and local officials have cooperated to respond to the emergency, investigate the accident, and provide assistance to families devastated by the loss of loved ones: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) expresses condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25; (2) honors those who lost their lives, including Franco Aparicio, Luciano Aparicio, Sarah Lee Best, Brielle Beyer, Justyna Beyer, Jonathan D. Boyd, Jonathan Jay Campos, James ``Tommy'' Thomas Clagett Jr., Chris Collins, Casey Laurance Crafton, Pete "PJ" Diaz, Kiah Duggins, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Loyd Eaves, Danasia Brown Elder, James ``Brian'' Ellis, Ian Douglas Epstein, Lindsey Denae Fields, Jinna Han, Jin Han, Cory Haynos, Stephanie Haynos, Roger Haynos, Alexander ``Alex'' Gordon Huffman, Asra Hussain-Raza, Steve Johnson, Julia Kay, Sean Kay, Elizabeth Anne Keys, Alexandr ``Sasha'' Kirsanov, Spencer Lane, Christine Conrad Lane, Samuel ``Sam'' Walter Lilley, Alydia Steele Livingston, Everly Pearl Livingston, Donna Livingston, Peter Livingston, Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, Pergentino Noble Malabed Jr., Grace Maxwell, Charles Douglas McDaniel, Dustin Michael Miller, Melissa Jane Nicandri, Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O'Hara, Vikesh Patel, Jesse Jameson Pitcher, Robert ``Rob'' Alan Prewitt, Lori Ann Girard Schrock, Robert ``Bob'' Ryan Schrock, Wendy Jo Shaffer, Evgenia Shishkova, Vadim Naumov, Michael ``Mikey'' Bret Stovall, Olesya Taylor, Olivia Ter, Inna Volyanskaya, Angela Yang, Zheheng ``Lily'' Li, Edward Zhou, Yu Zhou, Kaiyan Mao, and 7 others. (3) expresses sympathies to the people of Wichita, the entire state of Kansas, the National Capital Region, the Nation, and the multiple countries who grieve for the victims; and (4) commends the heroic actions of the first responders, emergency services personnel, and all those who aided in the recovery efforts in freezing waters. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) and the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas. General Leave Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H. Res. 153. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kansas? There was no objection. Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 153, which expresses condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Flight 5342 and PAT 25. This is a bipartisan resolution to honor the 67 lives that were lost during the tragic collision that occurred over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025. January 29 is typically a day of celebration in Kansas. From Manhattan to Goodland, Topeka to Liberal, Kansas City to Dodge City, Kansans come together to celebrate the rich history of Kansas and the anniversary of our statehood. January 29, 2025, changed the meaning of this day for Kansas and for the country forever. The world lost 67 bright, innocent lives that day, and I speak for all Americans when I say that this is a day that we will never ever forget. When we celebrate Kansas Day in years to come, we will also feel the nudging of the somber emotions aroused by this tragic accident. We will remember our fellow Americans whose lives were tragically lost: farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures taken from us far too soon. For more than a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation. Wichita has been known as the Air Capital of the World for more than a century due to our historic ties to aviation history. Although tragic accidents like these are rare, none of us are strangers to the hazards involved in man's pursuit of flight. We must continue to strive to learn as much as we can about this accident so that it never ever happens again. H. Res. 153 also lauds the heroism displayed by the many local, State, and Federal officials who sprang into action to perform recovery efforts. These men and women are heroes who demonstrated tremendous respect for the fallen, working in cold temperatures and icy waters for several days. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation and reserve the balance of my time. Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 153, expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the plane crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army call sign PAT 25, introduced by my colleagues from Kansas, Representatives Ron Estes and Tracey Mann. I thank both Congressman Estes and Congressman Mann for their leadership on this matter as well as the leadership and cooperation of the entire Kansas congressional delegation. The last couple of months have been heartbreaking and trying. It has been a hard time for our country and the U.S. aviation system. There have been numerous accidents, with the Potomac DCA midair collision being among the most tragic. At approximately 8:52 p.m. on January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342, flying from Wichita, Kansas, to Ronald Reagan National Airport, collided with UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter PAT 25 while on final approach to runway 33 at DCA, resulting in both aircraft crashing over the Potomac River. There were no survivors. Mr. Speaker, 67 innocent lives were lost: 60 passengers, 4 flight crew, and 3 Army soldiers. [[Page H936]] There is no one in my home State who hasn't been deeply affected by this tragedy. Kansas is known as the Air Capital of the World, a place where aviation is not just an industry, but a way of life. The passengers on Flight 5342 were our neighbors, our coworkers, and our loved ones. We are forever grateful for the more than 300 first responders who arrived almost immediately on the scene to try to rescue survivors. Responding parties initially included Washington, D.C., Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Metropolitan Police Department, Virginia State and municipal police departments, and multiple Federal agencies, including the NTSB, FBI, and U.S. Coast Guard. Sadly, this and other events stand as a stark reminder of the complexities of the national airspace system and that we shouldn't take the precious few moments with loved ones for granted. We must investigate this accident thoroughly to prevent this event from ever happening again and ensure that aviation safety always remains a top priority. With regard to the investigation, we are grateful to the NTSB personnel who are actively supporting the victims' families through the agency's family assistance program. Family assistance is a critical function of the NTSB and invaluable to those mourning the loss of one or more of their loved ones. In times of tragedy, it can be difficult to sort through the torrent of emotions--sadness, rage, loneliness, and regret. While counseling cannot bring back the loved ones lost, it can help survivors process the storm and maybe, just a little bit, blunt some of the pain. The NTSB is also leading the accident investigation itself. The agency deployed over 40 investigators alongside the Coast Guard, FBI, dive teams, and the Army Corps of Engineers to aid in the recovery and analysis. Aside from the wreckage of both aircraft and the personal effects of the victims, the agency has recovered the recording devices from both aircraft, and they are being analyzed by NTSB experts. This effort also extended far beyond the NTSB's personnel. Hundreds of government employees are supporting this investigative mission, including employees from the FAA, FBI, and Department of Transportation. As a Member of Congress and as a citizen who cares deeply for U.S. aviation, I am proud of those public servants and grateful for their sense of duty and sacrifice. Even though we all want answers, we must resist the urge to speculate on the causes of aviation accidents and allow the NTSB to complete its work. Aviation safety is dependent on a stable operating environment and technical analysis. I, for one, would like to trust the experts as they continue their mission to make the skies safer. When the final report comes out and the time comes to act, I hope that this body remembers this moment. We must do everything in our power, working across the aisle, to prevent this from ever happening again. In the meantime, let us come together in expressing our deepest condole

Referenced legislation: HRES153, HRES153