In view of the increasing number of violent “air rage” incidents that endanger passengers and crew on commercial aircraft, a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Brain Fitzpatrick, R-Pa creates a “no fly” list for passengers who have assaulted flight crews.
The Protection from Abusive Passengers Act (H.R.7433) aims at protecting travelers and crew members from the rising tide of passenger violence against aircraft crew members. Fitzpatrick’s co-sponsors on the bipartisan bill are Rep. Eric Swallwell (D-CA) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).
“Protecting airline employees and passengers from unthinkable violence and danger is paramount to ensuring the safety of the America’s public in the skies,” declared Fitzpatrick, a former FBI Special Agent who has also served as a federal prosecutor.
The bill addresses the alarming level of violence on commercial aircraft, with 5,981 unruly passenger incidents reported to the Federal Aviation Agency in 2021. The FAA investigated 1,105 serious incidents last year, over three times the previous high since the agency began collecting such data in 1995.
“No one should have to face threats, physical abuse, or any form of harassment in the workplace, including airline employees,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan legislation would create a system-wide no-fly list for abusive passengers and prevent these offenders from harming workers in all airlines.”
The bill has been referred to the Homeland Security Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-178), on Tuesday raised an issue regarding a bill to help Temporary Nurse Aides (TNA) become full-time Certified Nurse Aids (CNA) so they could continue working in nursing homes after the COBID-19 disaster declarations ended. Since then, she said, more than 5,000 Pennsylvanians have signed on to become TNAs.
Speaking at the meeting of House Aging and Older Adults Committee meeting April 19, Thomas said that despite the state’s hiring the testing and certification committee Credentia, “the average Pa. facility has a waiting list of eight patients and the average facility has 30 empty beds.
“Why? They cannot find workers to care for the patients due to limited testing sites for TNAs and a limited number of instructors.” Unfortunately, she said, “TNAs are reportedly giving up on becoming CNAs.”
Thomas said she has calls out “to get a solution that can serve our most vulnerable.” The bill she and other committee members support is Act 238 of 2020.
“On the Record” is supported by a grant to the Bucks County Herald Foundation made possible by Melissa Eiseman.
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