[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1116-S1117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE PROGRAM

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I strongly oppose a provision 
included in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety 
Improvement Act that would eliminate the Essential Air Service Program 
at those airports boarding 10 passengers or less per day. Essential Air 
Service, EAS, truly is essential to the communities of Alliance, 
Chadron and McCook in my home State of Nebraska being impacted by this 
provision. In all, there are 40 rural airports in several States across 
the country which would no longer be a part of the EAS Program if this 
provision is included in any piece of legislation signed into law.
  The adoption of this amendment to the FAA bill is bad for Nebraska 
and bad for rural America. The communities and surrounding areas being 
served by these airports use them as

[[Page S1117]]

economic development tools and rely on having commercial air service in 
order to stay connected to our Nation's transportation network. The 
many Nebraskans who have contacted me about this attempt to cut off EAS 
funding for their rural airports have expressed great concern about how 
losing EAS support would be devastating to their communities' ability 
to attract employers and create jobs. During a time when our country is 
starting to see glimpses of economic recovery, cutting off EAS support 
for these airports is not the answer.
  As a supporter of the EAS Program and someone who always considers 
the impact any legislation will have on rural Nebraska, I once again 
express my opposition to this provision and will work to see that it is 
not included in any final legislation authorizing our Nation's aviation 
programs.

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