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The group on Tuesday joining U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representatives Chris Collins and Tom Reed, to push the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement two regulations in the Airline Safety Act. Those provisions target pilot certification and crewmember training.
Both have deadlines later this year.
Kevin Kuwick, whose girlfriend, Lorin Maurer, was among the victims of Flight 3407, spoke during the press conference.
"So, it's either put up or shut up, get it done. It's got to be in the next year. We come here on the 5th anniversary next year, these rules have to be done, or, guess what, the airlines are going to win," Kuwick said.
Scott Maurer, the father of victim Lorin Maurer, wants the lawmakers to urge the president to send the message to the FAA.
"These people work for you. You have the power and the authority to make these things happen, and we're expecting you to get that done. And senators and congressmen, please help me get that message, please help me get that message to the president. That's what we all want to say," Mauer said with others around him expressing their agreement. "That's exactly what we want to say."
The deadlines for implementing the regulations are in August and October respectively.
The press conference and the Flight 3407 crash anniversary come on the heels of a Department of Transportation report from the Inspector General that details FAA failures toward implementation of pilot certification and crewmember training requirements.
The "Families of Continental Flight 3407" group was immediately organized after the crash in 2009 as a support network and an activist group to work on aviation safety reform.