Senator Warren Demands Strong Ethics Standards for FAA Review of Boeing 737 MAX
Warren urges FAA and Transportation Department to ensure no conflicts of interest for members of the Special Committee investigating the certification process that rubber-stamped Boeing 737 MAX
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) sent a letter this week to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Dan Ewell urging them to enact strong ethics policies to ensure that the Special Committee tasked with reviewing the FAA's Aircraft certification process is free from all conflicts of interest and undue insider influence.
Secretary Chao announced the formation of a Special Committee to investigate the Boeing 737 MAX approval process. The Boeing 737 MAX experienced catastrophic safety problems after it was involved in two deadly crashes within six months, and numerous reports have raised questions about whether the close relationship between FAA and Boeing may have played a part in the hasty approval of the jet.
Senator Warren asked that the FAA take steps to prevent all conflicts of interest by banning anyone from serving on this Special Committee with any connection to Boeing and imposing strict ethics standards that mirror those outlined in her ambitious anti-corruption legislation, the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act. She also asked that the Special Committee impose transparency on lobbying and other inside influence efforts.
Senator Warren also released the following statement: "Given the Special Committee's mandate to investigate whether conflicts of interest played a role in the FAA's decision to approve the Boeing 737 Max, I urge the FAA and Transportation Department to ensure the Special Committee itself is free of conflicts of interest and undue insider influence, as it begins this important investigation."
She requested a response to her letter no later than April 15, 2019.
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