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HR 2466 118th Congress House Transportation and Public Works

Essential Air Service Reform Act

Introduced: April 3, 2023 Introduced by: Meuser, Daniel Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 4, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Apr 3, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Apr 3, 2023
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now April 4, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2