Bill Passed in U.S. House with Key Flight Attendant Provisions

WASHINGTON, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives on passing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill (H.R. 915) yesterday. The bill, which included important enhancements directly related to the flight attendant profession, now waits for the Senate to take similar action.

"Workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants have been ignored for far too long and we urge the Senate to ensure that the vital measures included in yesterday's FAA Reauthorization become law," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President.

One provision included in the House's FAA Reauthorization continues the current Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) ban on inflight cell phone use.

"We hope that the Senate includes the important inflight cell phone restriction that the House approved. Cell phone use on aircraft is not a necessity. In far too many operational scenarios, cell phone use could be far worse than a mere nuisance: It could have catastrophic effects on aviation safety and security," added Friend.

Other measures AFA-CWA is urging the Senate to include in their FAA Reauthorization are funding for a flight attendant fatigue study; the inclusion of OSHA workplace safety and health protections; notification of pesticide application on flights; cabin air quality provisions that would initiate development of air quality sensors and filtration; a "Return to the Cabin" program that will allow flight attendants an opportunity for rehabilitation after testing positive for drug or alcohol abuse; temperature standards for aircraft; further definition of provisions restricting foreign control of U.S. airlines; and a ban on smoking onboard charter flights.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO

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