The Independent - House Says No to Ending Essential Air Service Subsidies

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By Robert Pore

U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., has voted against an attempt to eliminate the Essential Air Service program.

An amendment to H.R. 2610, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, failed by a vote of 166-248 on Tuesday.

EAS serves Grand Island and six other communities in Smith's 3rd Congressional District.

In comments on the House floor, Smith said all federal programs should be prepared and subjected to cost-saving measures.

"Essential Air Service is no different," he said. "This is why we passed sensible reforms during the FAA reauthorization last year to improve efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. Further, the underlying bill already includes a reduction in funding for the EAS program."

Smith said that, while there is room for savings in all programs, eliminating EAS outright would be counterproductive.

"The Essential Air Service program serves an important purpose in rural areas," he said. "Businesses in rural America cannot compete effectively without air service."

While the EAS subsidy needs to be reformed on both the public- and private-sector levels, Smith said, the consequence of totally eliminating that subsidy would be lost economic opportunities and jobs for smaller towns. That would lead to continued depopulation of rural areas and increased costs to the federal government in the form of other subsidies to maintain economic development.

Smith said the House rejected a similar amendment last year.

Other EAS airports in the 3rd District are in Kearney, North Platte, McCook, Scottsbluff, Alliance and Chadron.

Smith said Grand Island is a good example of how to make EAS work. The community's successful promotion of American Eagle flights from the Central Nebraska Regional Airport to Dallas, which has international airline connections, has provided economic benefits for local industries, manufacturers and businesses.

Promotion of the EAS flights has helped increase the number of people using the airport instead of going to another community for similar flights, Smith said.

"I tell communities with Essential Air Service that it is important to shop at home," Smith said. "That is, to fly out of those airports. (Airport Executive Director Mike Olson) has taken that to the next level in Grand Island. That is proof that good service will bring passengers. Grand Island is proof of that, and it has spoken volumes of what other communities should do."

He also said that airlines that receive EAS should promote those flights to encourage more boardings.

Smith said he would like to see an economy where EAS is not needed.
"I am willing to look at various reforms," he said, "but the heavy hand just slashing away is not the best approach."

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