September 13, 2019

Thank you for writing to me about the Fair and Open Skies Act.

The United States operates one of the safest aviation systems in the world. Consequently, it is important that Congress protect American businesses in this vital industry from unsafe competition. In the aviation sector, just as in all others, airlines must be made to play by the rules and uphold industry regulations.

Today, foreign airlines can set up a “flag of convenience” by establishing themselves in a country with weak airline regulations. That way, they can skirt strong labor protections and undercut their competitors.

That is why my team and I are reviewing H.R.3632, the Fair and Open Skies Act. This bill would bar the Department of Transportation from issuing permits to airlines that exploit a “flag of convenience,” thus protecting American businesses from unfair competition and ensuring labor standards are upheld. As my colleagues and I continue our discussions about labor standards, the aviation industry, and this specific issue in the 116th Congress, I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Hearing from you and learning what you care about helps me serve you. If you would like regular updates from my office, please visit us at https://schrier.house.gov to sign up for our newsletter. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future at https://schrier.house.gov/contact.

Sincerely,

Kim Schrier, M.D.
Member of Congress

The House Transportation Committee approved a bill today that would prohibit DOT from issuing permits to "flags of convenience" airlines, who have been accused of skirting regulations by using different countries for different parts of their business. The legislation, H.R. 3632 (116), is a perennial priority for chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who first introduced it in 2016 in response to DOT's issuance of a permit to Norwegian Air International. At the time, he called it a "virtual airline set up to undercut competition by exploiting cheap labor." The committee approved the bill this morning by voice vote. The bill has more than 60 cosponsors, including 13 Republicans.