Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 71.

Mr. Chair, for 60 years, the federally imposed perimeter rule has limited access and increased costs for Americans flying into Washington's Reagan Airport.

My amendment is simple. It adds seven new routes, one for each airline currently operating out of DCA, while preserving all existing flight routes.

Congress is long overdue to modernize this arbitrary, protectionist Federal policy put in place for the economic protection of one airport and one airline.

Deliberate misinformation has been circulating wildly among my colleagues, and I want to be clear: Our effort is not about benefiting one airport, one airline, or any one Member of Congress. It is about empowering American consumers by providing more options and greater convenience for people traveling to and from Washington, D.C.

For those who have benefited from the monopoly created by the perimeter rule 60 years ago, the message is clear: America, your choices will remain limited and your ticket prices will remain high.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to help DCA fly into the 21st century.

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson).

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).

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Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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