U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined a group of more than 20 Democratic Senators in sending a letter sent 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 shocking media reports detailing 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 wrote.“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.”
Sen. Warner also co-authored the Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), which would require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement. Language from the STOP Act was included in the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016, which was signed into law on July 15, 2016.
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