Buffalo, New York- February 12, 2010 – As the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ honored their loved ones on the one year anniversary, they hailed an agreement reached Thursday between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and Senator Chuck Schumer (NY), for the FAA Reauthorization Bill to go to the Senate floor during the Senate’s next working period which begins February 22nd.
“It’s been a long journey, and the reality is that there is still much work ahead to be done,” stated Scott Maurer of Moore, South Carolina, who lost his daughter Lorin. “But this is a significant step in the right direction, and we can’t thank Senator Schumer and Senator Reid enough for doing right by ordinary folk like us.”
The FAA Reauthorization Act contains key aviation safety reforms in response to the numerous gaps in the regional airline industry that were revealed by the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation, including the creation of a comprehensive pilot training records database, requirements for all regional carriers to implement key safety management programs, and numerous provisions aimed at the training and fatigue issues that were also key factors in the crash.
“We’ve made fifteen trips to Washington since May pushing for this,” added Kevin Kuwik of Columbus, Ohio. “We’ve done our homework, had meeting after meeting, and worked with the media. You just want to believe that someone is listening, that our government truly responds to its citizens. Today Senator Reid and Senator Schumer offer us some faith in the system.”
Over one thousand family, friends, and community members joined together for the anniversary to march from the crash site in Clarence Center, New York to the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Airport, where they will hold a 2:30 p.m. press conference to again call attention to their cause. Additionally, they have reached out to thousands across the country to mark the anniversary by contacting the White House and the Senate leadership in support of the FAA Reauthorization Act.