[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          FAA REAUTHORIZATION

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleagues 
for their work on the Reagan National perimeter rule issue.
  Last week, I sat down with several interested colleagues in an effort 
to try and find a path forward on this issue. As a result, we have the 
modified Ensign amendment before us.
  I would like to say a few words about the intent of that amendment. I 
am one who is sympathetic to the concerns of from my friend from 
Virginia, Senator Warner, who also serves as a member of the Senate 
Commerce Committee. While in a somewhat different position, in the 
past, I have had similar issues raised concerning my home State of 
Texas, and I recognize well that the impacts of dealing with a decision 
to change the status quo are enormously difficult.
  With that in mind, I believe we have come up with a compromise 
proposal that meets the concerns of my Western State colleagues and 
others and tries to address, to the extent possible, my friend from 
Virginia's concerns.
  The modified Ensign amendment is a simple solution to a complex 
problem. The amendment would allow any air carrier with existing 
``inside'' the perimeter large hub airport slots into Reagan National 
the ability to ``convert'' those slots to any community ``outside'' the 
perimeter, with each air carrier being capped at 15 round trip 
operations eligible for conversion.
  By utilizing the idea of ``conversions,'' we don't add any new 
flights to the airport, but we do give the air carriers the opportunity 
to better utilize their networks. I am hopeful we can take that concept 
and message to the House in the next round of the legislative process 
on this bill.
  I thank Senators Ensign and Kyl, as well as Senators DeMint, Boxer, 
McCain, Rockefeller, Dorgan, and Warner for their work on this very 
important issue. I remain hopeful that the final version of this FAA 
reauthorization bill will include a consensus agreement on this issue, 
and allow the opportunity for direct service to our Nation's Capitol 
for a number of communities that are eager for such service.

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