ALPA--U.S. HOUSE PASSES TRANSPORTATION SPENDING BILL WITH ALPA PRIORITIES
On Tuesday, June 9, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill to fund the nation's federal transportation programs, including the FAA. Included in the House legislation were provisions addressing Norwegian Air International, open skies agreements, and secondary barriers.
Specifically, the House has acknowledged the concerns that U.S. airlines and their employees have voiced regarding existing open skies agreements and whether subsidies have resulted in market distortions. ALPA had advocated for the language that calls on the U.S. Department of Transportation to report to the Committee on Appropriations within 90 days on its review of stakeholder input, including potential corrective actions within the framework of existing open skies agreements.
The bill also included the same language that was passed last year affirming the House's broad opposition to any foreign air carrier permit application that conflicts with the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement. The passage of this language makes it clear once again that U.S. lawmakers adamantly oppose business models such as Norwegian Air International's (NAI) and that the Department of Transportation must reject NAI's foreign air carrier permit application.
An amendment offered by Representative Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) was adopted by voice vote to stipulate that no funds can be used in contravention of existing flight deck safety regulations. During the bill debate, Representative Fitzpatrick made an impassioned speech on the need for secondary barriers. Watch it here.
The funding bill must be considered by the Senate before it is sent to the White House. All funding bills must be finalized before the end of the fiscal year to avoid a government shutdown.