[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6274910,"mediaKeyId","2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41","parentId",2777658,"title","NTSB emphasizes ongoing family assistance, monitoring of Norfolk Southern vent‑and‑burn recommendations and first‑responder training needs","audioSeconds",2954,"startMs",1334000,"endMs",4288000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41&start=1334&end=4288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41/thumbnail_1334000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6274910/NTSB-emphasizes-ongoing-family-assistance-monitoring-of-Norfolk-Southern-ventandburn-recommendations-and-firstresponder-training-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274910-4fbade8f0b186c668b61a823ac3b788d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999705&Signature=G0upF6NBRmomizEyjbMcWWaybMESsLXvcLunxBqH0d0VbUQ8vdZALOuDWiiMLOZMSbNJ5V9y63UbyGoN1Lbrnn5HKHENg4zeoLYIdyTZI864QA040RuR2KnEnOy6EPViyRHaU6LCH8gWDu5dUVqkAQ7BYpOBIFNjKZIe61HhxCkNlOwng3wDBQLrvYur3-4JtvevvSupvcbzFkklzdZPD50ahmfxYSLJ0ozvhV5PonHPq6nnwbitoGQ~5VesHKwAzN6uPLDscqB8gA8lau4remTFJ2YL-EwRh01ynjU985-HJgHPD6uAxdkIotw1Va0lysX194A0Yus44tkqj75Png__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Appropriations","date","2025-03-26T15:26:08Z","article","The National Transportation Safety Board told House appropriators it maintains long‑term contact with families affected by transportation disasters and continues to track implementation of recommendations, including those related to the Norfolk Southern East Palestine derailment.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the agency’s family assistance program facilitates recovery and identification work, and that staff meet families early in investigations—often within 24–48 hours—and remain in contact through preliminary and final reports. “Any time there are updates, they get them, they get noticed first,” she said, describing the agency’s ongoing communications with family members and noting that some families become safety advocates.

On the East Palestine investigation, Representative Thomas Massie asked about vent‑and‑burn procedures. Homendy said Norfolk Southern had not fully developed the recommended procedures and that the NTSB continues to monitor implementation; she said the board has not yet seen comparable adoptions by other rail systems.

Members also raised training for first responders. Homendy identified Chief of Special Operations Eric Grossoff as leading NTSB outreach to law enforcement and firefighters. She said the agency would like to add four or five regional staff to expand training and that the estimated cost per additional employee (including travel) could be about $200,000—an investment she described as “a small investment with a big payoff.”

The board also reiterated longstanding concerns about drug‑impaired driving. Homendy said teen driver education on drug impairment has declined in many places and that research shows one‑third of teen drivers surveyed believe it is legal to drive after using marijuana; she cited an increase in national marijuana use figures discussed during the hearing and urged improved testing protocols, more law‑enforcement training and stronger public education.

Why it matters: Families told the committee they need timely information and support; the NTSB’s follow‑through on recommendations (whether to railroads, local authorities or federal agencies) affects the implementation of safety changes and community recovery.

No formal votes were taken at the hearing; the subcommittee requested additional follow‑up on recommendation implementation, first‑responder training logistics and resource needs for expanded outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oversight Hearing - National Transportation Safety Board","oneSentenceSummary","At a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the agency’s family assistance program, ongoing monitoring of Norfolk Southern’s vent‑and‑burn recommendations in East Palestine and a push to expand training for first responders to improve on‑scene preservation for investigations.","taxTitle","Appropriations: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1832,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6274915,"NTSB seeks roughly $156 million for FY26 to reach full staffing; chair warns of burnout and hiring bottlenecks",1767,1199000,2966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41&start=1199&end=2966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41/thumbnail_1199000.jpg","/articles/6274915/NTSB-seeks-roughly-156-million-for-FY26-to-reach-full-staffing-chair-warns-of-burnout-and-hiring-bottlenecks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274915-61ab62eb2072ca8c442400e71df651d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999705&Signature=nqmWD~qPDIa52DqZuXvF1UcTc4-ikoT7XORdtF3FxVYRt2K50zIlB751M18BDctfZVriZyBs4nk0uN3NYmexXvPf6138avjLB8eEcj9A2ZzXn5g4uI8fFzmBNR6HQpq0zeGg1oJmvyq3YXtKC0iNkpdt7uMqJRgoQZaCxwA6RB0ZVxWiPHMpH26-0hZByqx4SL6oh1mtN41d6KH5qz13IaFTxiov4W050DnJAz7ems3Pj2fFWqmRcJA7ZhZaMav1gFIgYESRGsHDn6gh6z8alrzJcqFIP5XHzZT6INsFZ5fxQ01np-uGME-6OgdJNDcvQ~BMQ4qAzIN9ebOA80RkZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The National Transportation Safety Board told House appropriators it needs increased appropriations and targeted hiring authorities to maintain investigative capacity and reduce burnout among specialized investigators.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, told the Appropriations Subcommittee the NTSB’s workforce numbered about 427 at the time of testimony, that agency authorizations permit roughly 450, and that true full staffing would be in the 485–500 range. She said the NTSB requested roughly $156,000,000 for FY26 to reach closer to that full staffing level and to increase training and outreach.

“Seventy percent of our budget is our workforce,” Homendy told the panel, arguing that the agency runs lean and must invest in hiring and retention for highly skilled specialties such as structural engineering and recorder analysis. She noted the agency had hiring exemptions for investigative staff and was actively recruiting for more than a dozen positions but emphasized it also needs additional support personnel (CFO, CIO, HR and safety staff) to avoid overloading investigators.

Homendy and committee members discussed staff turnover, the time required to train new investigators (she estimated three to five years to fully prepare new hires for major investigations), and the risks of burnout from constant on‑call deployments. Homendy said some investigators had to work holidays and international responses, and that retaining experienced personnel requires staffing redundancy and predictable time off.

Representative Stephanie Bice praised individual investigators and asked how the NTSB plans to recruit and retain people with specialized credentials; Homendy described outreach and the NTSB’s party process (bringing external technical experts into investigations) as recruitment pathways but said sustained funding is the primary constraint.

No appropriation was voted on during the hearing. Homendy asked the committee to treat the FY26 request as an investment that will reduce backlog, shorten the age of open investigations and improve the agency’s responsiveness to emerging transportation threats.","NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told the House Appropriations Subcommittee the agency seeks increased FY26 funding to grow from about 427 employees toward a fully staffed target of roughly 485–500 and to expand training and first‑responder outreach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6274920,"NTSB: 15,214 close‑proximity events at Reagan National since 2021; issues urgent recommendations on helicopter routes and ADS‑B",1014,1412000,2426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41&start=1412&end=2426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41/thumbnail_1412000.jpg","/articles/6274920/NTSB-15214-closeproximity-events-at-Reagan-National-since-2021-issues-urgent-recommendations-on-helicopter-routes-and-ADSB","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274920-689c29093262d55e3bdcfeff2d1855a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999705&Signature=WXfkDWjFpABtk1gAr9ZbMtaNVFXH0~I9hiboN0NFBgR0QbfVmL4fV7bCAP6yoRY947fVi62L~Fk-x-IHYBt0UE8RyWHEVNbijZUEjJJ526hTsJDchaMe99sbhRApoulDLBNuJGaMg5oO4W9bCViZaVjRtbX8rchtsrP5IYFVLVANUj5wusm42lEcJS9WcY0MAR6a7PMn-3NAEqZkT2Gc7j-5n1E8a2Ew1xDLVYq5G~N1R7vQhHJczwPAdimvkTdS-M~zpgZghk34MCp8tDdA-wBV6pLVfiegRJEXGWqkOYnUt1yiCuS2WnoXQpWRPWI3ik5LJZ1Vh9QxNcb3WJrNng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The National Transportation Safety Board told members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that data collected before and after the January mid‑air collision at Reagan National Airport revealed thousands of close‑proximity events between helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the agency examined FAA surveillance and voluntary reporting data and found “15,214 close proximity events from 2021 through 2024 at DCA between helicopters and planes.” She told lawmakers the NTSB issued urgent safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the FAA adopted them quickly.

The NTSB’s urgent recommendation, issued on March 11, asked that helicopter traffic be prohibited while aircraft land or depart on Runways 15 and 33 and that the FAA identify alternative routes for helicopters. Homendy said FAA Secretary Michael Whitaker (referred as Secretary Duffy in parts of the hearing record) adopted the recommendations and that the temporary closure of Route 4 was extended beyond an initial March 31 timeline.

Homendy also discussed surveillance and avionics technology. She said ADS‑B Out is required for commercial aircraft since 2020, while ADS‑B In — which can provide pilots with additional traffic information — is not required. She noted the FAA issued a final rule in May 2024 that will phase in additional ADS‑B requirements, but some provisions do not take effect until 2027. Homendy told the committee the NTSB has recommended mandating ADS‑B In since 2008 and will examine whether its absence affected the January collision.

Why it matters: Homendy framed the issue as a systems problem. “The next accident is in the data right now,” she told the panel, arguing that aggregated reporting and surveillance data should be used proactively to detect trends and prevent collisions rather than waiting for a tragedy.

Committee members pressed about staffing and air‑traffic procedures, vertical separation minima and whether voluntary reporting or technological mandates would be the most effective path forward. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman asked whether the 15,214 figure represented near misses or smaller separation events; Homendy clarified the count reflects “close‑proximity events” and not necessarily collisions.

The subcommittee did not consider legislation at the hearing; the NTSB and FAA responses and implementation of recommendations will inform future oversight.

Direct quotes in this article are taken from Jennifer Homendy’s testimony to the subcommittee.","Chair Jennifer Homendy told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that analysis of FAA data found 15,214 close‑proximity events between 2021 and 2024 at Reagan National Airport; the NTSB issued urgent recommendations to the FAA to restrict helicopter traffic during certain runway operations and is examining ADS‑B solutions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6274926,"NTSB: Francis Scott Key Bridge risk far above guidance; agency urges vulnerability assessments for 68 bridges",1397,384000,1781000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41&start=384&end=1781","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777658-4acd8b20fad6156ec96378680398eb41/thumbnail_384000.jpg","/articles/6274926/NTSB-Francis-Scott-Key-Bridge-risk-far-above-guidance-agency-urges-vulnerability-assessments-for-68-bridges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274926-ba3def27416c2c2cbd5265a988173e1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770999705&Signature=ARhkMAr0ZTHF211HFiKb-hagXXk-lphzallyJwwFOi0ydiyGhgqaKqA0tRdp4gPz5Lieh1tGqbhVqZuHk~65F0u1fAInFYHrbpuBTaHeBD6l9azW-RsbiMnkzcrLBEKoxK8idTBL6rU-K14rhn5J1ERwKnz9spqlI-Cf5lE6ICXVrCKHCfiSLGMh60cAt6I6N-bfcny6MhsydTvVcwg-oDVUyVtXVdk-vX3HE-VjZk4jRPYrXvNmR6CUxsKlprFwcP4og4WYAVcDbQm2QE9PVwS4uOGub0IALDm2km4WKJ4252RBq~YxCzgjb7EVGibmGrN0zFfx5AOOqy-FXb0WAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The National Transportation Safety Board told a House Appropriations Subcommittee that the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s collision risk exceeded long-standing engineering guidance and prompted urgent recommendations for other high‑risk crossings.

At a subcommittee hearing, Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the NTSB’s rapid vulnerability assessment of the Key Bridge found the structure’s calculated risk was “almost 30 times greater than the risk threshold that AASHTO sets for critical bridges,” and that Pier 17 was “almost 15 times greater.” Homendy said the board asked 30 bridge owners of 68 bridges to perform similar vulnerability assessments and take immediate action if warranted.

Why it matters: The recommendation is aimed at preventing another vessel‑strike collapse after the Key Bridge incident killed construction workers and injured others. Homendy told lawmakers the NTSB accelerated months of assessment work into six months to provide timely data to bridge owners and federal partners.

Homendy described the steps the NTSB took: when Maryland Transportation Authority could not produce a prior vulnerability assessment, NTSB teams collected the necessary data, ran the AASHTO‑recommended calculations and issued urgent safety recommendations to bridge owners and federal partners. She said the AASHTO guidance from 1991 and its 2009 update recommended vulnerability assessments for existing bridges but many owners had not completed them.

Members of the subcommittee pressed for next steps and federal support. Representative Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the full committee, asked what Congress could do to strengthen state‑federal collaboration; Homendy recommended assistance from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help owners collect data and complete assessments. Sheriff T.K. Rutherford (Jacksonville area) noted that several bridges serving major freight and port corridors—he cited the Dames Point Bridge and Jaxport—appear on the NTSB list and urged immediate state follow‑up.

Homendy said the board was not asserting that every bridge on the list is at imminent risk of collapse; rather, the objective is to identify risk mathematically so owners can take proactive mitigation if calculations warrant it. She referenced historical precedents—such as the Sunshine Skyway improvements after a 1980 vessel strike—that led to substantial safety measures.

The NTSB recommended that bridge owners use AASHTO’s vulnerability‑assessment method and that federal partners provide technical assistance and guidance on data collection. The agency said it issued the recommendations as urgent to prompt immediate action by owners and federal partners.

Homendy closed her comments by noting the NTSB’s role is investigative and advisory: “We recommended … that 30 bridge owners, of 68 bridges conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine risk. And if warranted, take immediate action.”

The subcommittee did not vote on any measure during the hearing; members asked the agency to return with further updates on owners’ responses and any proposed federal assistance programs.","National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy told the House Appropriations Subcommittee the Key Bridge was found to be well above AASHTO risk thresholds and that the agency has urged 30 owners of 68 bridges to complete vulnerability assessments and take action if warranted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

NTSB emphasizes ongoing family assistance, monitoring of Norfolk Southern vent‑and‑burn recommendations and first‑responder training needs

NTSB seeks roughly $156 million for FY26 to reach full staffing; chair warns of burnout and hiring bottlenecks

NTSB: 15,214 close‑proximity events at Reagan National since 2021; issues urgent recommendations on helicopter routes and ADS‑B

NTSB: Francis Scott Key Bridge risk far above guidance; agency urges vulnerability assessments for 68 bridges