On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
very briefly, the Senator from Texas is correct. No one who was directly involved in these negotiations is pleased with the outcome. Some will say that must be a pretty good outcome then. One of the things we did in order to enable us to come to agreement is defer a big issue. That issue will have to be resolved in conference. It is the issue of how the additional flights that are being allowed under this legislation will be allocated among the various air carriers. Ordinarily, an agency will make a decision based upon criteria the Congress lays out in the underlying legislation; otherwise, their decisions can be challenged as arbitrary and capricious. It is up to us to devise what those standards are. We were not able to agree on them. It is one of the things we will have to try to come to an agreement with each other about and then articulate a position with our House colleagues in conference. This pertains both to the original or first-year tranche as well to the second-year tranche. I hope my colleagues and I can continue to work together in the spirit of cooperation to devise good criteria so the last piece of this legislation can be put into place.
