[Page H2677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            AVIATION SAFETY

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I serve on the Homeland Security 
Committee, and I have done so since the heinous act of 9/11.
  I have a great deal of faith in the aviation industry of this Nation, 
but I want to offer my deepest sympathy to the people of Ethiopia and 
Indonesia.
  In the instance of the Ethiopian flight, some eight Americans died. 
Ethiopian Americans have been calling my office saddened by the fact 
that some of their relatives, who are very special to them, lost their 
life.
  I called, earlier today, for the grounding of the 737 Max 8 not 
because I don't have faith in America's genius, but because I believe 
people are number one and first. Pilots count, fight attendants count, 
and passengers count.
  It is time for the FAA to remove their fear and to be able to assess 
a temporary grounding of this aircraft so that all of the systems can 
be checked, even the one that is automatic that the pilot is to 
release, which is alleged did not happen, but to release in order to 
save lives.
  These planes, this aircraft, should be grounded now, and I will be 
sending a letter to the FAA to demand that.

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