Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and 21 of their fellow Senators including Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) urging them to strengthen airline requirements to ensure airline personnel protect women on board from sexual assault. The letter follows a constituent’s personal story and shocking media reports detailing additional firsthand experiences showing airlines are ill-equipped to handle accusations of sexual assault on airplanes.
“As our country continues to combat the threat of violence against women, it is critical that no space be immune to the protections and support we afford survivors of sexual assault," the Senators write. “We must do all we can to ensure passengers’ rights and health are protected, flight crews are fully trained and equipped to handle sexual assaults, and that pertinent information is being reported to law enforcement to ensure justice."
The full text of the letter is below and HERE.
