WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, released the below statement during the full committee hearing entitled “Protecting Transportation Workers and Passengers from COVID: Gaps in Safety, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps.” More information about Thursday's hearing, including witnesses, testimony, additional background information and live webcast, can be found here.

Remarks as prepared for delivery

"Thank you, Chair DeFazio, for calling today’s hearing on “Protecting Transportation Workers and Passengers from COVID: Gaps in Safety, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps.”

"For nearly a year, the U.S. transportation workforce has faced an unprecedented challenge: keeping themselves and passengers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, while keeping the transportation network moving.

"Although Congress has provided much-needed financial relief to help keep the U.S. transportation system operational, Congress must do more to ensure the public health of the transportation workforce and the traveling public.

Biden Administration Efforts on COVID & Transportation

"I am pleased to see the new Biden Administration take strong actions to fight COVID-19 transmission throughout the U.S. transportation network.

"Recently, President Biden signed Executive Orders requiring masks on all modes of interstate transportation, including in airports and on aircraft and public transit. 

"President Biden also reinstated restrictions for international travelers seeking to enter the U.S. from most of Europe, Brazil and South Africa, and expanded testing for all air passengers entering the U. S.

"I look forward to working with Secretary Buttigieg and key stakeholders to ensure these and future actions are enforceable.

Aviation

"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shows the urgent need for a national aviation preparedness plan to ensure the safety of aviation crews, employees and passengers and to restore confidence in air travel.

"In my district, from September 2019 to August 2020, nearly 51 percent fewer passengers flew on U.S. carriers out of Bellingham International Airport than during the same period the year before.

"Although air travel demand picked up over the holidays, U.S. aviation is still a long way from a full recovery

"The emergence of new, more transmissible strains of COVID-19 underscores the need to better equip the U.S. aviation industry and workforce to respond to this evolving threat.

"To improve the safety of the traveling public and minimize disruptions to the national aviation system, I am reintroducing my bill, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, with my colleague Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08).

"The bill directs DOT to work with U.S. air carriers, airports, labor unions representing frontline workers and others on a plan to:

·        Improve coordination on screening, testing, quarantining and contact-tracing

·        Better equip frontline employees with PPE

·        Require airport and aircraft cleaning in accordance to public health guidelines- among other key protections.

"As Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses, particularly Ms. Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, on how to better ensure the safety of flight crews and passengers.

Public Transit

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public transit agencies have been at the forefront of carrying out policies to protect riders and transit operators.

"In my district, Island Transit, Community Transit, Whatcom Transit Authority and other local agencies implemented rear-door boarding and installed protective shields to maintain a safe distance between riders and transit operators and regularly disinfect buses, ferries and worker facilities.

"Congress must continue to provide federal relief for local transit agencies to preserve jobs, expand access to PPE and support other key safety measures.

Maritime

"Washington state’s maritime sector, including its commercial fishing and seafood industry, is key to the regional economy, supporting 148,000 jobs and generating $30 billion in revenue.

"However, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the local maritime workforce particularly hard.

"In my district, more than 100 crew members from three fishing vessels tested positive for COVID-19 last summer, many of whom were asymptomatic. The crew was quarantined and vessels, which offloaded at the Port of Bellingham.

"In addition, a COVID-19 outbreak occurred among sailors on the USS Kidd, which is homeported at Naval Station Everett, one month into its five-month deployment.

"While I am thankful to the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, and state and local health departments’ response, these incidents underscore the importance of access to rapid testing and vaccines/therapeutics for frontline workers to ensure the economy can operate safely during the pandemic.

Conclusion

"I want to acknowledge and thank the dedicated frontline transportation workers, who through difficult times, are keeping passengers safe and the economy moving. 

"I stand with you and will do more to support you.

"Again, thank you, Chair DeFazio, for calling this important hearing, and thank you to today’s witnesses for your testimony.

"I look forward to hearing more on ways to bolster COVID-19 response efforts in transportation."

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