Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator, both for this opportunity and for all her hard work and leadership in crafting an excellent Transportation appropriations bill. The bill will do a great deal for all types of transportation in this country, including aviation. She has served the public well, as she has done throughout her service here in Congress. But as the Senator knows, airline travelers are frustrated. In the last five years, delays, cancellations, and consumer complaints have all risen dramatically. Earlier this year, the DOT inspector general reported that "the aviation system is not working well." Part of the problem is insufficient capacity. That is why I support efforts to increase capacity by building more runways and improving air traffic control. It is also why Senator Murray's efforts on the aviation portions of this year's are so appreciated. At the same time, part of the problem is that there isn't enough competition. Airlines too often treat consumers in ways that would not be tolerated for long in other industries--and the airlines get away with it because passengers have limited choices for air travel. The Department of Transportation is charged with protecting consumers against airlines that engage in "unfair and deceptive" practices. But the truth is, the Department of Transportation is not primarily a consumer protection agency. It has limited resources for this task, and limited experience with "unfair and deceptive" practice enforcement.”