Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
February 28, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT REINTRODUCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC TABLE LEGISLATION

St. Croix, USVI – This week, Congresswoman Plaskett (D-VI-AL) and her Republican colleague, Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-ID-1) reintroduced legislation to request an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable which will connect the East coast of the United States, via the United States Virgin Islands, with Nigeria and Ghana.    

“I am pleased to reintroduce legislation known as the ‘DiasporaLink Act’ with my colleague, Congressman Fulcher. This bill represents an opportunity to establish high-speed Internet connection to Africa and throughout the Caribbean from American soil, which will enhance America’s national security data and communication interests in the regions. In the legislation, this Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable will intersect in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The DiasporaLink Act is envisioned as both a national security instrument and a digital commerce expressway to boost America’s global, political, economic, and military advantages and influences. This act will ensure the region is not forgotten as it confronts increasing regional political instability and transnational criminal activity,” stated Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett.

Congressman Russ Fulcher shared, “The DiasporaLink Act, H.R. 1737, will give the U.S. access to the necessary insights to address counterterrorism and inform AFRICOM on critical strategic matters. Undersea cables to carry critical data between the U.S. and Africa represent a vital link between the strategic location of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the continent of Africa.”

“Thank you to Congressman Fulcher for his continued support of this legislation as well as Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D – New Jersey) and Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R – Kentucky) for their stewardship of this initiative. The reintroduction of this bill is one step in the legislative process. Legislation does not become law until passed by the House, passed by the Senate, then signed by the President. I am hopeful this measure will be considered by the full House in short order, and my team and I will be working to have companion measures considered by the Senate,” shared Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett.

Background:

Presently, there is no direct fiber optic link between the US and the continent of Africa. Africa is increasingly an area that presents dynamic economic opportunity for our country as well as national security challenges that must be addressed. The Virgin Islands is strategically positioned in the transit zones to fight transnational crime and protect U.S. national and regional security in the Caribbean as well as be a safe hub for optic between the 2 continents. The Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable network’s strategic location makes DiasporaLink a “Digital Safe Harbor” under the U.S. flag. This service will provide African and Caribbean submarine operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) a clear channel to U.S. financial and business centers. In addition, undersea cables have significant strategic importance and an estimated 400 of them carry approximately 98 percent of international internet data as well as telephone traffic around the world. Many are owned and operated by U.S. companies — helping reinforce U.S. dominance over the internet while giving a sense of security to the U.S. and its allies that may be concerned about sabotage or surveillance.  Having the hub in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a significant 21st century paradigm shift; it allows our islands’ advantages, many of which have been used for the benefit of other world powers (i.e. the VI’s geostrategic location), to be utilized for the benefit of our people.  DiasporaLink in the USVI will make it a hub for commerce in the global digital economy and will stimulate high tech job opportunities for Virgin Islanders and attract digital users to the territory.

In the 118^th Congress, this legislation passed through the House Energy & Commerce Committee with unanimous support, passed the House of Representatives and was sent on to the Senate.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland 
February 14, 2025                                                           202-808-6129 

PRESS RELEASE   

PLASKETT CO-LEADS LEGISLATION WITH REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN TO INCREASE RUM COVER OVER 

St. Croix, USVI – This week, Congresswoman Plaskett (D-VI-AL) and her Republican colleague, Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-4), introduced bipartisan legislation to increase the ‘rum cover over’ which is the amount of money transferred to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico from the rebate of federal excise taxes on distilled spirits produced in or imported into the rest of the United States from the two U.S. territories.

The rum cover over is one of the primary funding sources to promote economic development and create jobs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, thanks to Congresswoman Plaskett’s and former Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón’s advocacy, Congress passed a 5-year increase of the cover over to $13.25, from $10.50, in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), which is the public law that gave the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico the unprecedented funding to rebuild the territories. The temporary increase expired in December of 2021. The legislation being introduced by Congressman Estes and co-led by Congresswoman Plaskett will increase the cover over rate to $13.25 until 2032, and the additional funds for the $13.25 rate will be given retroactively to the Virgin Islands Government.

“The cover-over has been a fundamental part of the tax relationship between the United States and its territories going back over a century,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “These funds, which represent nearly 25% of the Virgin Islands Government’s annual budget, are critical for stabilizing the government employees’ pension program, supporting infrastructure projects, and attracting investments to diversify the economy beyond tourism. I am thankful to my colleague, Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS), for co-leading this vital legislation that supports the Virgin Islands economy and our constituents. 
 
Congresswoman Plaskett went on to share, “I would like to thank Senate President Milton Potter and Senators Novelle Francis, Marvin Blyden and Kurt Vialet, as well as GERS Administrator Angel Dawson and Chairman Dwane Callwood for coming to Washington, D.C. this week. We had the opportunity to meet with my Republican and Democrat colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee, Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives, and lobbyists from the rum industry. Our collective advocacy is paramount for policies that will advance the Virgin Islands.

“In 2025, many of the temporary provisions enacted under President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will expire. The introduction of this bill is one step in the legislative process, but it is no secret that there will be challenges to crafting this year’s tax bill. Ongoing Republican negotiations have outlined a maximum 10-year time frame for tax extenders. In order to comply with these parameters, this legislation will apply, retroactively, from 2022 and extend through 2032. In my role on the Ways and Means and Budget Committees, I will continue to work with my Republican and Democrat colleagues to advocate for the increased rum cover over rate, which is crucial to maintaining the long-term stability and economic growth of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Background:

Under current law, excise tax collections on imported rum are transferred to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the rate of $13.25 per proof gallon; $10.50 per proof gallon is in permanent law, and the remaining $2.75 per proof gallon requires periodic reauthorization by Congress. This legislation would amend Section 7652 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, making $13.25 per proof gallon the amount covered over by law until 2032, enhancing long-term sustainable economic growth in the two U.S. territories.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
February 13, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT HOSTS MEMBERS OF THE 36TH LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Washington, DC – This week, Congresswoman Plaskett (D-VI) hosted members of the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands and several representatives from the Virgin Islands Government Employees’ Retirement System in Washington, D.C. for multiple meetings with Members and professional staff of the Ways and Means Committee as well as Democratic Caucus leadership.

“I was pleased to welcome Senate President Milton Potter and Senators Novelle Francis, Marvin Blyden and Kurt Vialet, along with GERS Administrator Angel Dawson and Chairman Dwane Callwood to Washington this week,” shared Congresswoman Plaskett. “We had the opportunity to engage with Ways and Means Committee Members and their staff on the unique tax and revenue issues of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2025, many of the temporary provisions enacted under President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will expire. Issues of the rum cover-over, excise taxes, customs, tax incentive programs, and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program are all within the jurisdiction of Ways and Means.

“I would like to thank both my Democratic and Republican colleagues for taking the time to hear firsthand about the impacts of federal policy decisions on our community. I also would like to express my gratitude to the Members of the 36th Legislature and the GERS Administrator and Chairman who joined me and my team in Washington, to collectively advocate for policies that will advance the Virgin Islands. I look forward to our continued collaboration on this matter.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Donald Trump’s Executive Order Will Have Significant Negative Consequences for Students, Teachers, and Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

Watch Livestream Here

NEW YORK, NY —This weekend, Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with local advocates, will hold a virtual forum for families impacted by Trump Administration cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. 

During the virtual forum, Rep. Espaillat will present an overview of his legislative actions to combat these challenges, and constituents will have the opportunity to hear from local representatives and advocates regarding available resources and support to impacted families.  

This latest forum is a continuation of Espaillat’s series of informative virtual and in-person events held throughout New York’s 13th congressional district in direct response to policy proposals from the Trump administration. 

Watch the forum live on Meta/ Facebook here. 

WHO: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) 
Carolina Rodriguez, Esq. Director, Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP)
Viviann Anguiano, Former Director of Education, The White House Domestic Policy Council, and senior fellow, Century Foundation
Dr. Marie Guillaume, Principal, HS for Energy and Technology
Christopher E. Barto, Monroe University
 

WHAT: Virtual Department of Education Forum for Families

WHEN: Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (EDT)
 

Watch Livestream: @RepEspaillat on Twitter/X and Meta/Facebook

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. 

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement on the ICE arrest at Columbia University: 

“Regarding the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a constituent who lives in my district, my office has been following this case closely and as a former green card holder, I expect the Department of Justice to work within the confines of the law and that due process is guaranteed to him and his family. The rule of law must be respected.”

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

The United States is the Second Largest Global Exporter, Caucus Provides Congressional Oversight to End Unfair Trade Practices

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

NEW YORK, NY – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will deliver the Democratic Spanish language response to President Trump’s Joint Address on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.  

Said Rep. Espaillat, “Democrats must lead the American people’s response to many of the Trump administration’s most egregious violations of our laws, our social norms and of the principles that bind us together as Americans. As chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), it is my honor to bring that response to the millions of people in our comunidad who speak Spanish, whether at home, at work, at church, or just out of choice. Our diversity is a source of strength when we tap into it – that’s why I’ll be elevating the Democratic message to more than 50 million Americans in the language they choose.” 

“Adriano Espaillat embodies the very essence of the American dream. Throughout his career, Adriano has fought to keep that same promise of the American dream alive for millions of American families. As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, he has worked tirelessly to advance an agenda for all Americans by lowering the price of groceries, making homes more affordable, and providing stability,” said Leader Chuck Schumer.     

Leader Jeffries said, “Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat is an extraordinary trailblazer and advocate on behalf of his constituents in New York’s 13th congressional district, the Dominican American community and the country. He has been a critical voice in creating opportunities for Latinos and immigrants all across the United States and a courageous leader as we fight for social and economic justice for everyone. House Democrats are proud to have Chair Espaillat leading the way as we reach out to Spanish-speaking households across the country.”

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia district in the U.S. House that includes the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency, today called for the resignations of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in the wake of reporting by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg that they and other Trump officials discussed military strikes on Yemen over Signal:

“This is one of the dumbest security breaches in American history, and it suggests a larger pattern of potentially criminal behavior. If the information Trump Administration officials incompetently and carelessly discussed in obvious violation of secure procedures had fallen into the wrong hands, it might have jeopardized the lives of Americans serving in harm’s way. That cannot be allowed to happen.

“The response by Trump’s people to this story has been, if possible, worse. They are attacking and discrediting the media, even after they confirmed the story themselves. They are denying, ludicrously, that the information they disclosed was sensitive or classified. And as we saw repeatedly in today’s Senate hearing, they are trying to deceive the country about the severity of this incident.

“Consider what we know. We know National Security Advisor Waltz convened what was essentially a National Security Council principals meeting via Signal, an act of extraordinarily bad judgment that may have broken the law. We know Special Envoy Witkoff participated in the same conversation while he was in Russia, where he knew his electronic devices would be targets of surveillance. We know DNI Gabbard was overseas while discussing impending military strikes using an improper messaging app, likely on an insecure phone, and then refused to answer Senators’ questions about it. We know Secretary Hegseth claimed to deliver ‘100% operations security’ as he unknowingly shared details about an upcoming airstrike with a reporter. We know that when confronted with his mistake, Hegseth chose to attack that reporter’s credibility, despite the entire story having already been confirmed by the White House. And we know that no one on this Signal, which also included the Secretaries of State and Commerce as well as the White House Chief of Staff, raised concerns that what they were doing violated security protocols.

“Now consider what we don’t know. We don’t know what sensitive or classified information may have been shared on this chat. We don’t know whether Russia or other adversaries obtained that information. We don’t know what might have happened to American pilots or other servicemembers if that information had been shared with the Houthis. We don’t know what other Signal chats Trump officials have on other sensitive topics or what security breaches may result from them. The Trump Administration is arguing that they did nothing wrong here, so no one should assume this was an isolated incident. And no one should doubt that Russia, China, Iran, and other global adversaries are stepping up efforts to target American officials.

“It is a challenge to respond to a breach this severe, but Congress and the appropriate authorities elsewhere must step up to provide necessary oversight. At a minimum, Hegseth, Waltz, Gabbard, and Witkoff must resign or be fired. There should be robust investigations by committees of jurisdiction to determine where other breaches may have occurred and take appropriate action. Republicans who fail to stand for their country in this moment will forever surrender all credibility on national security issues.

“The Inspectors General for the Departments of Defense and State should be reinstated and should investigate this matter along with the Intelligence Community IG. The Justice Department and FBI would under ordinary circumstances investigate this incident and any other related breaches and hold anyone who committed crimes accountable. Since the current leadership of the DOJ and FBI are incapable of doing that without political interference, a special counsel should be appointed to take these steps.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), joined by Representatives André Carson (D-IN), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called for immediate and permanent changes to ensure airspace safety at Washington National Airport following the release of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s preliminary report on the tragic midair collision at National Airport on January 29.

The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the findings in the NTSB preliminary report, voiced support for NTSB’s recommendations, and commended Secretary Duffy for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) prompt response to the NTSB’s preliminary report, including the decision to close helicopter Route 4. The lawmakers also urged relevant agencies to take further precautions including by decreasing the total helicopter volume in the National Capital Region, reviewing helicopter routes in the National Capital Region with a specific focus on lateral dimensions, establishing an alternative helicopter route that avoids redirecting air traffic over residential areas, and conducting a review of the existing flight volume in and out of National Airport. 

In the letter, the lawmakers write:

“Following last week’s release of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s preliminary report on the tragic midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (“National Airport”) on January 29, 2025, we write to express renewed concerns and echo NTSB’s call for permanent changes to address contributing factors to this collision.

“We echo Chair Homendy’s concern that the history of close proximity incidents at National Airport and this collision at National Airport demonstrate an ‘intolerable risk to aviation safety.

“We resoundingly support NTSB’s recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take the following actions: 

1.      Prohibit operations on helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals, respectively, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

2.      Designate an alternative helicopter route that can be used to facilitate travel between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is closed.

“The airspace around National Airport is oversaturated—this has become abundantly clear by both the NTSB preliminary report and years of reports of near miss encounters within National Airport’s airspace. Prohibiting helicopter traffic within the immediate area adjacent to National Airport is a necessary safety measure to protect American lives. And while we agree with the recommendation to consider alternate flight routes for helicopter traffic, we believe that this recommendation should not result in relocating helicopter traffic over nearby residential areas. We request that the FAA keep Congress apprised of and involved with the planning process when evaluating and selecting an alternative helicopter route. 

“We also request that the FAA and NTSB review the existing flight volume in and out of National Airport, to ensure that the current volume of flights is compatible with the workload that our aviation safety personnel can handle. While moving helicopter traffic further from National Airport would alleviate some burden on aviation safety personnel, we remain concerned by historical near miss statistics identified by the NTSB report and by the lower than recommended number of air traffic controllers currently working at National Airport. We must ensure that the volume of flights is manageable for our aviation safety systems, and does not cause compounded delays pushing flights into unnecessarily late hours and causing further complications. National Airport’s aviation safety personnel and systems must be able to reasonably accommodate the airport’s flight volume within normal flight hours. 

“The NTSB preliminary report documents the confluence of circumstances under which this tragic collision occurred. We stand ready to support NTSB as it continues its full investigation of the root causes of this collision. The federal government’s work in response to this collision will be far from finished even when these preliminary recommendations are adopted. It is imperative that we begin to act now to prevent the known dangers of an overcrowded airspace and close proximity of airplane flight paths and helicopter routes from contributing to a future collision. 

Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

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Dear Secretary Duffy, Acting Administrator Rocheleau, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary Driscoll: 

Following last week’s release of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s preliminary report on the tragic midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (“National Airport”) on January 29, 2025, we write to express renewed concerns and echo NTSB’s call for permanent changes to address contributing factors to this collision. 

This collision and its aftermath are among the most devastating events in our region in recent history and have left families and entire communities in mourning. This event has also instilled unease and uncertainty for many in the flying public. America’s airspace has long been the safest in the world—many Americans have never witnessed such an accident during their lifetime. It is now the federal government’s task to ensure that the American public has no need for fear and does not witness another accident like this in their lifetimes. 

We commend the NTSB on its dedication to this investigation and on its thoroughness. Chair Homendy and her team have been excellent partners to all parties involved, including Congress, federal departments and agencies, and the families and loved ones of the victims. We appreciate NTSB’s dedication to this investigation, and believe this preliminary report lays the groundwork necessary to begin making necessary safety changes in the airspace surrounding National Airport.  

We echo Chair Homendy’s concern that the history of close proximity incidents at National Airport and this collision at National Airport demonstrate an “intolerable risk to aviation safety.” We want to highlight that between October 2021 and December 2024, there were 15,214 close proximity events that triggered a resolution advisory from the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), and 85 incidents where aircraft were within less than 1,500 ft of lateral separation and under 200 feet of vertical separation. Despite these numbers, there was no significant, long-term response to prevent future occurrences until this report. We are also particularly alarmed by the close proximity of helicopter Route 4’s flight path to the landing path for aircraft using runway 33, which could result in the aircraft traveling within 75 feet of each other. We concur with NTSB in its findings, which read: 

“Existing separation distances between helicopter traffic operating on Route 4 and aircraft landing on runway 33 are insufficient and pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a midair collision. 

When Route 4 operations are prohibited as recommended in Safety Recommendation A-25-1, it is critical for public safety helicopter operations to have an alternate route for operating in and around Washington, DC, without increasing controller workload.” 

We resoundingly support NTSB’s recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take the following actions: 

3.      Prohibit operations on helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals, respectively, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

4.      Designate an alternative helicopter route that can be used to facilitate travel between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is closed.

Secretary Duffy: we appreciate your prompt response to the NTSB’s preliminary report and adoption of the NTSB’s preliminary recommendations, including by closing helicopter Route 4. We have provided additional insights in this letter to guide your further implementation of the recommendations. We look forward to partnering with you on this endeavor.

The airspace around National Airport is oversaturated—this has become abundantly clear by both the NTSB preliminary report and years of reports of near miss encounters within National Airport’s airspace. Prohibiting helicopter traffic within the immediate area adjacent to National Airport is a necessary safety measure to protect American lives. And while we agree with the recommendation to consider alternate flight routes for helicopter traffic, we believe that this recommendation should not result in relocating helicopter traffic over nearby residential areas. We request that the FAA keep Congress apprised of and involved with the planning process when evaluating and selecting an alternative helicopter route. 

We believe that decreasing the volume of helicopter traffic in the region would alleviate congestion in the airspace and an overburdened air traffic system, and prevent potential conflicts derived from redirected aircraft. We request the FAA and the Department of Defense permanently reduce significant aviation traffic within the region surrounding National Airport, short of emergency response services. To the maximum extent practicable, military training flights should be conducted outside the National Capital Region. When training necessitates use of routes within the region, they should be conducted in strict compliance with the timing constraints NTSB recommended and alternate routes that FAA will provide, or avoid using Route 4 altogether and instead use other FAA-approved preexisting routes to circumvent the airport. VIP travel can often be feasibly substituted for vehicular travel or flight paths that route further outside of the region, and other helicopter flights are simply not necessary to complete within this oversaturated airspace. As we await more clarity in the forthcoming NTSB full investigation, we request that the Department of Defense require pilots within the National Capital Region to use ADS-B Out, and to limit permissible exceptions to such requirement. 

We also request that the FAA and NTSB review the existing flight volume in and out of National Airport, to ensure that the current volume of flights is compatible with the workload that our aviation safety personnel can handle. While moving helicopter traffic further from National Airport would alleviate some burden on aviation safety personnel, we remain concerned by historical near miss statistics identified by the NTSB report and by the lower than recommended number of air traffic controllers currently working at National Airport. We must ensure that the volume of flights is manageable for our aviation safety systems, and does not cause compounded delays pushing flights into unnecessarily late hours and causing further complications. National Airport’s aviation safety personnel and systems must be able to reasonably accommodate the airport’s flight volume within normal flight hours. 

Finally, NTSB found that helicopter routes have “no defined lateral boundaries and are drawn to depict linear paths along defined surface features in a manner legible to flight crews.” This lack of any lateral parameters on current routes allows operators to deviate close to National Airport runways on Routes 1 and 4 and over residential areas while traversing the other routes. We request that FAA conduct a review of Routes 1 and 4 over the river, and all helicopter routes in the National Capital Region with a specific focus on lateral dimensions. 

The NTSB preliminary report documents the confluence of circumstances under which this tragic collision occurred. We stand ready to support NTSB as it continues its full investigation of the root causes of this collision. The federal government’s work in response to this collision will be far from finished even when these preliminary recommendations are adopted. It is imperative that we begin to act now to prevent the known dangers of an overcrowded airspace and close proximity of airplane flight paths and helicopter routes from contributing to a future collision. 

We request a briefing by March 31^st to discuss the implementation of these recommendations. We thank you for your collaboration, and in advance, for your swift actions to protect our aviation safety.

Sincerely,