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“WENDELL H. FORD AVIATION INVESTMENT AND REFORM ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E377 on March 22, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WENDELL H. FORD AVIATION INVESTMENT AND REFORM ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
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speech of
HON. MERRILL COOK
of utah
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for the conference agreement provisions in AIR 21 which allow exemptions to the current perimeter rule at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. I believe these provisions fairly balance the interest of members from communities inside the perimeter and those of us from western states, who currently do not have convenient access to Reagan National.
While I would have preferred the complete elimination of the perimeter rule, the final agreement includes 12 slots, which is a small step in the right direction. Now the Department of Transportation must ensure that all parts of the West benefit. I am particularly concerned that small- and mid-sized communities in the West, especially in the northern tier, have improved access through hubs like Salt Lake City.
Improved access to Reagan National from hubs like Salt Lake City will improve service to our Nation's Capital for dozens of Western cities beyond the perimeter--consistent with the overall intent of the bill to improve air service to small and medium-sized cities.
As this legislation has progressed, our goal has been to improve air service for communities which have not experienced the benefits of deregulation to the extent of larger markets. The provisions related to improved access to Reagan National is no different. Today, passengers from small- and medium-sized communities in the West are forced to double or even triple connect to fly to Reagan National. My goal is that passengers from all points west of the perimeter will have better options to reach Washington and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via connections at Western hubs like Salt Lake City. Large cities, which already have a variety of point-to-point service options, are not intended to be the only beneficiaries of this legislation. I trust the DOT will ensure that small and medium-sized cities like Salt Lake City are given the opportunity to receive some of these new slots as well.
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