[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1309-S1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. Roberts):
  S. 313. A bill to repeal a provision of the International Air 
Transportation Competition Act of 1979 relating to air transportation 
from Love Field, TX; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


                THE WRIGHT AMENDMENT REPEAL ACT OF 1997

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Kansas 
[Mr. Roberts] joins with me today in offering this bill to address an 
injustice that has developed out of current law.
  Under current law, commercial air carriers are prohibited from 
providing service between Dallas' Love Field and points located outside 
of Texas or its four surrounding States. This effectively limits travel 
into and out of this airport to destinations only in Texas, Louisiana, 
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Flights originating from any other 
State must fly into the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport in order to have 
access to the highly traveled Dallas area.
  The original intent of the Wright amendment was to protect the then 
relatively new Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. It is now the third busiest 
airport in the country and no longer needs to be protected from 
competition. The amendment distorts the free market and condones 
anticompetitive law; it also limits travel and forces passengers to pay 
artificially and unreasonably high airfare. Furthermore, it causes 
unnecessary delay and inconvenience

[[Page S1310]]

for passengers, especially the disabled, elderly, and those traveling 
with small children. Finally, Dallas is the top destination for 
passengers flying from Wichita and this restriction denies Kansas lower 
fares.
  This restriction not based on any standards appropriate for the 
airline industry. It is not based on mileage flown, size of the city 
serviced, or noise generated by the aircraft. Instead, it is an 
outdated restriction based on political boundaries which were in place 
before the advent of airplanes.
  As a law that is based on political concerns rather than practical 
realities, this is a prime example of unwarranted and unnecessary 
government regulation. It is a prime example of a lack of common sense 
and it is a prime example of why so many Americans have lost confidence 
in their Government.
  The Wright amendment is wrong for America, and I urge my colleagues 
to join me in correcting this biased situation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 313

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPEAL OF PROVISION RELATING TO LOVE FIELD, TEXAS.

       Section 29 of the International Air Transportation 
     Competition Act of 1979 (94 Stat. 48) is repealed.
                                 ______