On the eve of the first anniversary of the mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke at a commemoration event in Washington, D.C. The event honored the 67 individuals who lost their lives in the incident, as well as their families and first responders.
During her remarks at DAR Constitution Hall, Senator Cantwell addressed the families and those involved in advocating for aviation safety since the tragedy. She stated:
“Good evening. Thank you for inviting me to be part of this unbelievable program, which honors the 67 members of your families and the unsung heroes. I don't know that somebody could have put together a more beautiful program tonight that spoke to the heart of each and every one of us about the loss that you've suffered.
“I want to especially thank Amy Hunter, Rachel Feres, Christina Stovall and Doug Lane for their remarkable leadership within your family organization. I can tell you in my time here in Washington dealing with aviation safety, I've met the families of the Colgan crash. I've met the families of the MAX crash. Meeting you - there's nobody like you.
“There are unbelievable families, contributing hard work and dedication for years to make aviation safety better in this country, but as Doug said tonight, you brought something else. You brought a collective purpose. You hung together and you're helping everybody heal just a little bit. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that.
“As Doug said, we're not helpless to help each other and help ourselves. And that is why my colleague and I, Senator Cruz, are dedicated to the passage of the ROTOR Act. And we don't just mean in the United States Senate. We mean we want it on the President's desk, and we want it on the President's desk as soon as possible.
“And as somebody who knows what this fight is all about, I can just tell you that the paper today said something incredibly important. The NTSB has been saying things for a long time, and nobody has been listening. But Jennifer Homendy got it over the goal line and she basically made it clear we need to change the FAA, and it too needs to be a more accountable organization [for] the safety and lives of our loved ones. So, thank you, Jennifer, for doing your job.
“And we too have to continue to evangelize, to continue to tell our fellow Americans that this unbelievable loss that we've suffered—and Christina, thank you for Mikey's photo (holds up photo). Thank you for constantly sharing and sending me little messages by text and tell—I’m thinking, this woman lost her son, and she's texting me, she's texting me to tell me these things. And when I see the beauty of all those families, the joy, the love, the celebration of life—and to think that that has been stolen from all of us.
“All I know is that just as you've transformed yourself into a powerful organization to speak about the need for aviation safety. You are going to help everybody in the United States understand this problem and get it over the goal line so that our future will be safer. But trust me, trust me. I'm never going to forget your loved ones. God bless all of you.”
The commemoration recognized not only those who died but also highlighted efforts by their families who have advocated for improvements in aviation safety standards over this past year.
