Womack, Cole, THUD Members Hold National Transportation Safety Board Oversight Hearing
Washington, D.C. – Today, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR), Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), and other members emphasized the importance of transportation safety and security during an oversight hearing with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Appearing before Congress for the first time since the tragic mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in January - and coinciding with the anniversary of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse - NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy testified on the agency’s investigation protocols, ongoing work, and priorities.
Subcommittee Chairman Womack said, "Safety is a top priority for this subcommittee in our work to fund the nation’s transportation network. It is our duty to ensure we provide appropriate levels of support to transportation programs that ensure the safety of our skies, roads, and railroads. It is also our duty on this committee to support the operations of the National Transportation Safety Board. This critical, independent safety watchdog helps ensure our world-class transportation system is as safe as possible, identifying the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of some of our most tragic accidents and puzzling events in civil transportation."
Subcommittee Chairman Womack’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
Chairman Tom Cole said, "Our nation’s transportation systems are relied on by Americans and passengers from across the globe. We not only expect, but demand, that they reflect the gold standard in safety. Yet, recent accidents in our skies, waterways, and railways have raised serious concerns and questions. From the mid-air collision at Reagan Washington National Airport to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collision, these tragedies have brought devastating loss and underscored the need to ensure these situations are never repeated.
"The bottom line is, when you get on a plane, drive over a bridge, or board a train – you shouldn’t have to wonder if you’ll make it to your destination safely. The mission of Chair Homendy and her team at the National Transportation Safety Board is essential to that point. They investigate why an accident occurred and identify measures to prevent it from happening again. They don’t speculate – they find the facts necessary to uphold the highest standards of reliability and safety."
Chairman Tom Cole's full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
Subcommittee Vice Chair Bice said, "I had the great pleasure of visiting with you and your staff, and I was so incredibly impressed with the job that you and your team are doing and particularly, Clint, your investigative lead there who is really phenomenal and such a wealth of knowledge...The people that work at your organization have such incredible experience. It takes time, I believe Clint is a structural engineer by trade, if I remember correctly. Taking that knowledge and being able to utilize it to examine these accidents, and figure out how to keep the public safe, is time-consuming. You talked already a little bit about staffing issues. Tell me, what is your plan to try to hire more of these folks with this specialized background and keep them in your organization?"
Rep. Rutherford said, "As a former first responder myself, I've worked closely with your team on several severe incidents that occurred in our jurisdiction... Is there any type of training that we could support for NTSB to work with some state and local first responders on how we can prepare scenes for you before you show up - those sorts of things - that we can be a force multiplier for you before your investigators do show up?"
Rep. Joyce said, "A little over 2 years ago, the Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling the toxic chemicals. As you know, that continues to affect the health of the local communities today. Your investigation into the vent and burn of all five derailed VCM tanks addressed the communication and decision-making processes that led to the vent and burn and the availability of sound criteria for when a vent and burn is appropriate. Can you give the committee an update on your recommendations for ensuring the proper assessment of when to use vent and burn procedures in the event of an emergency?"
Rep. Strong said, "In North Alabama, the most recent NTSB investigation required close coordination with several local agencies, including the Scottsboro City Fire and Police Department, the Hollywood Alabama Fire Department, and Jackson County Emergency Management. How frequently does NTSB conduct joint training exercises or professional development initiatives with state and local agencies to ensure both investigators and first responders are well prepared to handle emerging incidents and are fully integrated into the investigative process?"
The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said, "The NTSB is a small agency that plays a vital role in ensuring public safety and protection of life and property in all that we do. I appreciate the need to right-size the federal workforce. In fact, I strongly agree with that goal. However, the NTSB runs lean - we always have. We have just 430 employees to carry out our mission and are authorized by Congress to go up to 450, though we would need significantly more than that to truly be fully staffed. To quote Chairman Womack, ‘we punch far above our weight.’ Everyone at the NTSB plays a role in achieving our mission to make transportation safer. Their hard work, professionalism, and dedication is the reason that the NTSB is regarded as the world’s preeminent safety agency."
A full recording of the hearing is available here.
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