Delaying Competition at Airports Hurts Economy

Ensign, Boxer Bill Would Give Air Travelers to the West More Options

Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced legislation today (June 8, 2009) that would revise an arbitrary restriction on Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) that limits competition and reduces choices for travelers.  By allowing the marketplace to operate more freely, this simple fix would give travelers more options and may lead to lower airfares on certain routes, particularly to the West.

 “Free market competition would take off if Congress revised this rule that is no longer necessary,” said Ensign, whose bill has support from key Senate leaders.  “With competition delayed, air travelers lose because, even though they have clearly demonstrated a need for additional flights to the West, including Las Vegas, air carriers are unable to meet the demand.”

The Ensign-Boxer bill would allow airlines at DCA to fly beyond the airport’s outdated 1250-mile perimeter rule, while still ensuring safe travel and protecting service to smaller communities.  The bill does not repeal the perimeter restriction and does not break up any hub-and-spoke operations.  The legislation is supported by U.S. Airways, a major carrier at DCA and McCarran Airport in Las Vegas.

 “Right now there is only one direct flight between California and Washington’s

Reagan National Airport – falling far short of consumer demand,” said Senator Boxer. “This bipartisan bill offers a balanced solution and would give Californians more choices for direct service to Washington, D.C.”

 “I have fought for years to end the artificial barrier to full and open competition for airliners to fly from Western states into Washington’s Reagan National Airport,” said Senator John McCain.  “Now that the restrictions on Dallas Love Field have been lifted, it is time to end the last of these Congressionally imposed restrictions on air travel that only serve to drive up consumer prices and limit travel options.”

In some cities with multiple airports, perimeter restrictions were put in place to force airlines to base their longer flights at newer regional airports.  More than four decades ago, DCA’s perimeter was restricted to promote the then-new Washington Dulles International Airport.  Today, however, advancements in technology and changes in the marketplace have eliminated the need to protect the now much larger Dulles Airport from competition with DCA.

The bill picked up support from a key leader, Senator Jim DeMint, the Ranking Member for the Aviation Subcommittee.  Ensign and Boxer hope to add the bipartisan legislation to the pending Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that is moving through Congress.

Ensign’s efforts on a similar issue were key to eliminating outdated restrictions that limited airline competition.  Ensign was a leader in the fight to repeal the Wright Amendment, which restricted flights from Dallas Love Field to only seven states and, as a result, discouraged passengers from flying low-cost airlines.

Ensign, Heller Urge Forest Service to Act Now on Fuels Reduction at Tahoe

In a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, Senator John Ensign and Representative Dean Heller today (June 9, 2009) urged the agency to act without delay on certain hazardous fuels reduction projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  Hazardous fuels reduction is a key component to fire mitigation.  It is written into federal law that certain hazardous fuels reduction projects can be expedited in advance of the wildfire season.    

 “Wildfires have taken a toll on the Lake Tahoe Basin, but if we act now we can prevent the next fire from starting,” said Ensign.  “In accordance with current law, there should be no further delay in hazardous fuels reduction at the Spooner Project.  As wildfire season rapidly approaches, we cannot afford to unnecessarily slow efforts with this critical fire mitigation effort.  Today, we are urging the Forest Service to no longer delay the Spooner Project.”

 “The potential for catastrophic wildfires in the Tahoe Basin has been a concern for many years.  The Angora fire underscored the need for greater fuels management in the Tahoe Basin.  The Spooner Project will help advance our goal of preventing catastrophic timber fires near Lake Tahoe.  This project can be expedited under current law, and the Forest Service should make this project a priority,” said Heller.

Included below is the text of the letter.

Mr. Randy Moore

Regional Forester

US Forest Service – Pacific Southwest Region

1323 Club Drive

Vallejo, CA 94592 

Dear Mr. Moore: 

We are writing to encourage you to continue the important work of hazardous fuels reduction management in the Lake Tahoe Basin area.   Hazardous fuels reduction is a critical component to fire mitigation in the Basin, and we have been supportive of all the work that has been done and will continue to be done to keep the Lake Tahoe area pristine for generations to come and keep residents, visitors, and property from harm.

Congress recently passed and President Obama signed into law the Omnibus Appropriations Act, H.R. 1105.  This bill, now Public Law 111-8, included important language critical to the future of Lake Tahoe.  Section 423 of this law allows some hazardous fuels reduction projects to be categorically excluded from environmental impact statements (EIS) or environmental assessments (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  This new provision would allow critical hazardous fuels reduction projects to be completed faster, further protecting Lake Tahoe from the devastating effects of forest fires.

We have recently learned that there is a project underway (Spooner Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Restoration Project in Nevada) that meets the criteria in Section 423.  We recommend that you do not delay in completing this important hazardous fuels reduction project using Section 423.  The Spooner Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Restoration Project is of major importance to keep communities safe and reduce the environmental devastation caused by wildfires.  

As elected officials who have jurisdiction over the Lake Tahoe Basin, we will continue to monitor the progress of hazardous fuels reduction projects and will be mindful of Section 423 and the great benefits that this new provision can have on the Lake Tahoe area.   Lake Tahoe is a national treasure, and we will do all we can to ensure that it remains pristine for our children and future generations.

ACLU Politics Should Not Dictate U.S. Policy

Senator John Ensign, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, made the following comments regarding the Democrats’ plans to remove from the war supplemental legislative language prohibiting the release of detainee photos:

 “I will not support a war supplemental spending bill that unnecessarily jeopardizes the well being of our men and women on the frontlines.  President Obama made clear that releasing certain photos would ‘put our troops in greater danger.’ 

 “Politics driven by the ACLU and the radical left should not get in between our troops and their safety.  I appreciate the leadership of Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham on this issue.  The Senate should not move forward until this issue is resolved, and the prohibition is put back into the supplemental. 

 “We have made tremendous political progress with the Iraqis, but in one swift move, the release of these photos could singlehandedly set back much of what we have achieved.