California congressman introduces helicopter safety bill honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant


Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, making it mandatory for all helicopters to come equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system.
On Sunday, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were killed when their helicopter went down in Calabasas, California. It was foggy, and the chopper crashed into a hill. The helicopter did not have a terrain alarm system.
Sherman's bill also calls for the creation of a commission on helicopter safety, which would report to Congress best practices for helicopters during times of low visibility.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Earlier this week, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jennifer Homendy said that 16 years ago, her agency recommended that all helicopters carrying six or more passengers install a terrain awareness and warning system, but the Federal Aviation Administration rejected the proposal, the Los Angeles Times reports. The FAA denies this, citing the fact that helicopter air ambulance operations must have terrain alarm systems.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein