Congress Directs DOT to Establish InFlight Sexual Assault Task Force
As part of the omnibus spending bill passed on March 23, 2018, Congress directed the Department of Transportation to establish the National InFlight Sexual Assault Task Force:
"Sexual Assault Rules and Guidelines.—The Committee remains concerned about the adequacy of response to incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment that take place onboard commercial aircraft. All passengers should be able to travel without the worry of being sexually assaulted. However, there is limited data on the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment committed on commercial aircraft and a lack of guidance and training for airline personnel to respond to such incidents. The Committee directs the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, in conjunction with the FAA, to establish Federal rules and guidelines, based on best practices, for air carriers to respond to and address sexual assault and sexual harassment onboard commercial aircraft within 1 year of enactment of this act. The Federal rules and guidelines shall include: (1) initial and annual recurrent training for flight attendants, pilots, and other individuals who are employees or contractors of the air carrier that respond to or address sexual assault and sexual harassment of passengers, employees, and contractors of the air carrier onboard commercial aircraft; (2) timely reporting by air carriers of sexual assault and sexual harassment onboard commercial aircraft, which incorporates privacy protections for victims; and (3) a program to collect, maintain, and make publically available data from air carriers on the incidence of sexual assault and sexual harassment onboard commercial aircraft in a manner that maintains privacy protections for individuals and allows for confidential reporting.
"To develop these Federal rules and guidelines, the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings shall establish the National InFlight Sexual Assault Task Force [Task Force] to provide recommendations to the Secretary on best practices and protocols for air carriers relating to training, reporting, and data collection. The task force shall include the Department of Justice, including the Office on Violence Against Women; the Department of Health and Human Services; national organizations which specialize in pro- 12 viding services to sexual assault victims and responding to and addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment; national consumer protection organizations; national travel organizations; labor organizations which represent flight attendants and pilots; State and local law enforcement agencies; airports; and air carriers. Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings shall submit an initial report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the Task Force’s recommendations."
