Chavez-DeRemer, Hoyle, Van Orden cosponsor Airport Ramp Worker Safety Act

WASHINGTON (KTVZ ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee, recently joined Reps. Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) to help introduce the Airport Ramp Worker Safety Act as an original cosponsor.

This bipartisan legislation would require the development of training and safety standards to protect airport ground crew workers while on the job.

“One accidental ramp worker death is one too many, and tragically, there have been several in recent years. It’s clear we need to do more to improve safety protocols and ensure these workers have the resources needed to avoid hazardous situations,” Chavez-DeRemer said. 

“The Airport Ramp Worker Safety Act will protect ground crews, including those represented by Communication Workers for America, by requiring the FAA to take necessary action to prevent accidental deaths and injuries. This is a common-sense proposal that will keep our airport ramp workers safe.”

The Airport Ramp Worker Safety Act would require the Federal Aviation Administration to develop and publish comprehensive safety training requirements to protect airport ground crew workers.

These requirements will help prevent accidents and fatalities among workers involving dangers like aircraft engine ingestion and jet blast hazards. It would also require the FAA to work with stakeholders, including labor groups, and submit a report to Congress outlining tarmac hazards.

As a member of the Aviation Subcommittee, Chavez-DeRemer also joined Hoyle on the AIR PUMP Act, which was included in the House-passed FAA reauthorization bill. It would protect flight crews by ensuring attendants have time and private space to pump breast milk without fearing retaliation. She is also a cosponsor of the bipartisan Protection from Abusive Passengers Act to keep flight crews safe from dangerous flyers.