[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     H.R. 1000, FAA REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, last week the Senate acted resoundingly and 
passed the critically needed conference report for funding the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA). I commend the efforts of our majority 
leader, Senator Lott, the Appropriations Committee chairman, Senator 
Stevens, and Budget Committee chairman, Senator Domenici. My colleagues 
here and over in the House have worked hard to arrive at this 
consensus. Both as a Senator and frequent flyer, I appreciate their 
efforts.
  At this time, I would like to reiterate several points I made during 
last year's debate in the Senate having to do with allowing exemptions 
to the current perimeter rule at Ronald Reagan Washington National 
Airport. I believe that the conference report balances the interests of 
states inside the perimeter with those of us from Western States who 
lack convenient access to Reagan National.
  I know my colleagues are aware of my support for efforts to ensure 
that these limited exemptions must benefit citizens throughout the 
West. I believe we must make it clear that these limited number of 
exemptions should not be awarded solely or disproportionately to one 
carrier. I fully anticipate that the Department of Transportation will 
ensure that the maximum number of cities benefit from these slots.
  While I would have preferred to eliminate the perimeter rule 
altogether, which I believe would have substantially improved access to 
the West, I am hopeful that DOT will ensure that small and midsized 
communities in West, especially in the Northern tier, have improved 
access through hubs like Salt Lake City.
  I believe an important component of aviation reform is to improve air 
service for communities that have not experienced the benefits of 
deregulation to the extent large markets have. Today, Utahns must 
double or even triple connect to fly into Reagan National. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues and the DOT to ensure that 
citizens in the west have improved access and a variety of options when 
they travel.

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