Essential Air Service Reform Act
This bill modifies the Essential Air Service (EAS) program's applicant selection process for air service providers. (The EAS program was established to ensure that small communities that were served by certificated air carriers before the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 would continue to receive scheduled passenger service.)
Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must consider the overall cost of a submitted bid when selecting an EAS applicant to provide basic essential air service to a community.
The bill also removes a current requirement that, in selecting an EAS applicant, DOT give substantial weight to the views of elected officials who represent air transportation users.
Finally, DOT must notify Congress when it enters into an EAS contract with an air service provider and include an explanation for awarding the contract with the notification.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2466 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2466
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to consider the cost of providing basic essential air
service when selecting applicants for the essential air service
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2023
Mr. Meuser introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to consider the cost of providing basic essential air
service when selecting applicants for the essential air service
program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Essential Air Service Reform Act''.
SEC. 2. BASIC ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE.
Section 41732(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (5); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5).
SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF COMPENSATION.
Section 41733(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``, giving substantial
weight to the views of the elected officials representing the
users'';
(2) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (F) by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''' and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) the overall cost of the bid submitted by the
applicant to provide basic essential air service to the
eligible place.''.
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.
Upon entering into an essential air service contract with an air
carrier under subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States
Code, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
notification that the Secretary has entered into such contract and an
explanation for awarding such contract.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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