This is the latest good news regarding our goal of preventing the White House efforts to allow for greater foreign control of US airlines. You may also wish to read the document linked below.
In Solidarity
Ann Crowley LEC Pres. Council 89
ACrowley@afausairways.org
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August 16, 2006
TO: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FR: Edward Wytkind, President
RE: Foreign Ownership Proposal
After a few days of rumors circulating in Washington, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has now conceded in press accounts (see attached) that it has shelved until at least the fall its pending proposed rule permitting foreign control of U.S. airlines. The Administration has now publicly acknowledged that it cannot ignore the strong will of Congress.
As you know, we've been pushing a legislative prohibition against this rule for several months. In June, when the House considered the FY 2007 Transportation, Treasury and Housing appropriations bill we won a strong House floor vote (291-137). Senate appropriators, over Chairman Bond's opposition, followed the House action by inserting a legislative bar in the Senate version of the transportation spending bill during Committee consideration.
As a result of these House and Senate actions, the DOT will not implement a final rule this month as it had previously announced. I want to congratulate the airline unions for a tremendous lobbying effort to get us to this point. Obviously, the Administration can still choose to move ahead so we must ensure that House and Senate appropriators maintain the legislative prohibition in the final spending bill sent to the President.
Please give me a call if you have any questions.
Attachments
cc: John Sweeney
Rich Trumka
Bill Samuel
Designated Reps.
Legislative Committee
