[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 71 (Monday, May 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5376-S5377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATOR PRESSLER CREATES NEW TOURISM AND EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise today to praise our colleague from
South Dakota, Senator Pressler, for the very important leadership he
has provided to open new international air service
[[Page S5377]]
markets for U.S. passenger and cargo carriers. Senator Pressler's
outstanding work in this regard has rewarded our economy with enormous
new tourism and export opportunities.
As chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, Senator Pressler's outstanding leadership on numerous
initiatives this Congress has been deservedly recognized on the Senate
floor by Senators from both sides of the aisle. These significant
accomplishments include passage of the landmark telecommunications law
and commonsense product liability reform as well as the elimination of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Today, I want to acknowledge another area in which Senator Pressler's
leadership is paying enormous dividends for consumers and our economy.
I speak about his bipartisan leadership in the area of creating new
international air service opportunities for our passenger and cargo
carriers. Let me add these efforts are in addition to the tremendously
important and longstanding leadership Senator Pressler continues to
provide in the areas of air service to small communities and aviation
safety--two areas of great importance to me.
For instance, just 2 months ago, Senator Pressler's steadfast
leadership was instrumental in securing a truly historic open skies
agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany. The potential long-term
economic benefits of this open skies agreement are enormous. In fact,
consumers traveling to Germany this summer will immediately feel the
impact of this agreement. As Senator Pressler has predicted, the United
States/German open skies agreement will be a catalyst for further
liberalization of the very lucrative United States/European Union air
service market.
Mr. President, I wish to bring my colleagues' attention to two recent
letters further acknowledging the critical role Senator Pressler played
in obtaining the United States/German open skies agreement.
First, Secretary of Transportation, Federico Pena, recently wrote
Senator Pressler ``[y]our strong support of the open-skies concept has
been instrumental in making it possible for us to achieve this historic
milestone [the U.S./German open skies agreement] in aviation. I applaud
and greatly appreciate your bipartisan leadership role in the issue of
great importance to all Americans.'' I ask unanimous consent that a
copy of Secretary Pena's letter be inserted in the Record, at the
conclusion of my remarks.
Second, German Transport Minister Matthias Wissmann recently wrote
Senator Pressler to ``express my sincere gratitude for your steadfast
leadership and unwavering commitment to the goal of a fully liberalized
aviation relationship between the United States and Germany. You were a
cornerstone in the political process in this development.'' I ask
unanimous consent a copy of Minister Wissman's letter be printed in the
Record.
Mr. President, let me conclude by saying I am very pleased to call
the Senate's attention to the very important work Senator Pressler is
doing in the area of international aviation. His efforts have been
enormously beneficial to our economy, consumers, and the airline
industry.
There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
The Secretary of Transportation,
Washington, DC, April 2, 1996.
Hon. Larry Pressler,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for letter offering
congratulations on the initialling of the U.S.-German open-
skies aviation agreement.
Your strong support of the open-skies concept has been
instrumental in making it possible for us to achieve this
historic milestone in aviation. I applaud and greatly
appreciate your bipartisan leadership role on this issue of
great importance to all Americans.
The U.S.-German aviation agreement coupled with the other
eleven open-skies agreements in Europe provide the critical
mass that guarantees a new era in global aviation--one that
relies on the marketplace to determine the kind and quality
of air services that are offered to consumers and begins a
process that will remove governments from a role in air
service decisions. This achievement means that U.S. consumers
will benefit from a much greater array of service and price
options that will be tailored to their specific needs.
I, as you, appreciate the outstanding work of DAS Mark
Gerchick in providing the pivotal leadership that made it
possible to achieve the agreement with Germany in one round
of formal talks. Mark's efforts assured that a difficult
negotiation was concluded with amazing speed while achieving
all of our open-skies goals.
I look forward to continuing our collaboration on this and
other issues as we work hard to build a better transportation
future for our country. If we can be of further assistance,
please contact me or Steven Palmer, Assistant Secretary for
Governmental Affairs, at (202) 366-4573.
Sincerely,
Federico Pena.
____
Bundesminister Fur Verkehr,
Bonn, den 12, Marz 1996.
Hon. Larry Pressler,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Pressler: Thank you for your letter of January
1996.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your steadfast
leadership and unwavering commitment to the goal of a fully
liberalized aviation relationship between the United States
and Germany. You were a cornerstone in the political process
in this development.
Looking back to our meeting in July 1995, I have the strong
feeling that at that time together we started to tread the
path which finally led to this fine agreement.
Your articulate advocacy of the mutual benefits of such a
relationship, especially for consumers in both of our
countries, continues to be critical in making our open skies
accord a reality. I also appreciate your kind words
recognizing the special challenge we Germans face in Europe.
By working together armed with that understanding, we can
convert those challenges to opportunities and, as you have
noted yourself, our U.S.-German accord will be the catalyst
for expanding the benefits of open skies to Europe as a
whole.
In this context I also want to commend the admirable
endeavors of your collaborator Mike Korens, whose work for
this agreement is outstanding. His great personal commitment
and constant monitoring since the very beginning of the
process has been rewarded with our final success.
I want to make use of this opportunity, dear Senator
Pressler, to also congratulate you on the telecommunications
Law which you authored.
I was very sorry to hear that you had to postpone your
visit to Germany. Of course I would be delighted to re-
schedule your trip in the near future at a time convenient to
you.
Sincerely,
Matthias Wissmann.
____________________