Jon Runyan: “I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Grimm) for his support on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support…”

“I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Grimm) for his support on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Runyan-Grimm amendment which seeks excess baggage fees being charged to servicemembers deploying or returning from an overseas contingency operation. This issue was brought to light early in June when a group of Army Reservists traveling back from Afghanistan were charged $200 each for checking a fourth bag, some of which contained U.S. Government equipment like an M4 rifle, a grenade launcher, and a 9-millimeter pistol. The soldiers posted a YouTube video, titled, ``Delta Airlines Welcomes Soldiers Home,'' expressing their frustrations for what they had experienced. After serving our country in theater and enduring an 18-hour layover on their trip home, the warm welcome this group received was a $2,800 out-of-pocket expense. This is an unacceptable slap in the face, whether it was intentional or not. Applying these charges to those headed to or returning from the fight is an insult to them and their service to our Nation. My amendment would make none of the funds available by this act to be used to pay any commercial air carrier if that airline charges excess baggage fees for the first four pieces of checked luggage that are 80 pounds or less per servicemember. This amendment is a reasonable compromise, whose primary purpose is taking care of our warfighters while not allowing the system to be abused.…”