WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee, issued the following statement today after introducing legislation to reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 
 
“The National Transportation Safety Board does unbelievably important work, especially when a tragedy occurs, and it is critical they have the resources needed to strengthen our transportation safety,” said Senator Dorgan. “The NTSB also does behind the scenes investigations and evaluations to determine what kind of rules should exist to promote safety in our public transportation systems, and this legislation will help the agency in its role of protecting the public.”
 
“Unfortunately, it has been a busy year for the NTSB, which has been involved in a number of high-profile investigations,” said Senator Rockefeller.  “I commend the agency for its unwavering commitment to public safety and for carrying out its responsibilities so diligently.  As we move forward, reauthorization legislation gives us an opportunity to address key challenges facing both the NTSB and our nation’s transportation system.  We intend to pass the NTSB reauthorization legislation expeditiously, and together, we can make real progress and improve the safety of our transportation system.”

“The National Transportation Safety Board has a critical responsibility to help ensure America’s transportation system is safe and reliable,” said Senator Lautenberg.  “This legislation will help the NTSB meet the emerging transportation challenges of the 21st century and improve America’s transportation infrastructure.”  

 KEY BACKGROUND 

The NTSB is an independent federal agency responsible for investigating and establishing the facts, circumstances and probable cause of significant transportation accidents in order to develop recommendations that will prevent future accidents or reduce their effects in terms of injury, loss of life, or damage to property.  The NTSB also conducts safety studies and prepares safety reports based on analyses of transportation accident data.  The NTSB investigates over one thousand transportation accidents every year and since its inception in 1967, it has issued over 10,000 safety recommendations that have led to safety improvements in all aspects of America’s transportation system.

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