[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.

                          ____________________