Volume 142, No. 9 covering the 2nd Session of the 104th Congress (1995 - 1996) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S346 on Jan. 24, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself and Mr. Harkin):
S. 1524. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit smoking on any scheduled airline flight segment intrastate, interstate, or foreign air transportation.
the airliner cabin air quality act of 1996
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I am introducing the Airliner Cabin Air Quality Act of 1996, which would prohibit smoking on international flights to and from the United States by domestic and foreign carriers.
Mr. President, more than 50,000 studies have established the scientific evidence incriminating cigarette smoking as a direct cause of death and disability. Volumes of evidence also document similar health effects as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. For example, in 1991, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health placed environmental tobacco smoke in its most significant category of human carcinogens.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that environmental tobacco smoke causes some 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 12,000 other cancer deaths each year. In addition, the EPA believes that 70 percent of the lung cancer deaths attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are due to exposures outside of the home.
Environmental tobacco smoke exposure leads to coughing, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function in nonsmoking adults. While these symptoms may seem minor in nature, their effects on individuals can have permanent health and financial consequences. It is estimated that flight attendants lose about $10,000 per year in salary if they are unable to work on international flights on which smoking is still allowed.
Mr. President, in September 1992, the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO] passed a nonbinding resolution urging governments to take the necessary steps to ban smoking on all international flights as a safety and health measure. The resolution calls for the ban to be in place no later than July 1, 1996. I am hopeful, but not confident, that the ICAO resolution will be successful.
This past summer, ICAO released a working paper on the progress being made toward the implementation of its international smoking ban resolution. While developing the working paper, ICAO asked its more than 300 members to indicate their intentions with respect to implementation of the smoking ban. Of the 67 replies, 34 countries gave either no indication of their intentions or indicated they were going to delay implementation. Another 10 countries indicated implementation plans were under study. Only 24 countries stated that they would implement the smoking ban. Based upon replies to this questionnaire, some have estimated that just 13 percent of all ICAO members will take the steps necessary to ban smoking on international flights.
Mr. President, from the perspective of the United States, the potentially low rate of participation of other countries in an international smoking ban should be unacceptable. The United States and its carriers have repeatedly demonstrated their support for an international smoking ban. As the result of an agreement between the United States, Canada, and Australia, passengers traveling between these countries need not suffer through a smoke-filled flight.
About a year ago, the Department of Transportation provided eight U.S. carriers with an antitrust waiver so they could discuss implementing a voluntary transatlantic smoking ban. Despite their unanimous resolve to move toward a smoke-free environment, the participating carriers were unable to reach an agreement. Many were unwilling to ban smoking because of perceptions about competitive pressures from foreign carriers who are unwilling to voluntarily ban smoking.
Mr. President, I have been active for many years in efforts to ensure clean cabin air for airline passengers. In 1988, I sponsored legislation that banned smoking on domestic flights of 2 hours or less. This law protected approximately 80 percent of all domestic passengers from the documented effects of environmental tobacco smoke. In 1989, based upon the success and popularity of the 2-hour smoking ban, Congress expanded the ban to include nearly all domestic flights.
Mr. President, this legislation would extend the protection now enjoyed by domestic passengers and flight attendants to those who fly into and out of this country. I wish other countries would enter into multilateral smoking-ban agreements on their own so this bill would be unnecessary. However, that does not seem likely. Therefore, this bill is needed to demonstrate the U.S. Congress' resolve and continued leadership on this issue. The bill would create a level competitive playing field for carriers utilizing our market. And, most importantly, it would protect the health and safety of all those who fly internationally.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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