John Cornyn: “I am proud to join Senator Durbin and Senator Hutchison, the senior Senator from Texas, along with Senators Brown…”

“I am proud to join Senator Durbin and Senator Hutchison, the senior Senator from Texas, along with Senators Brown, Voinovich, Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, and Senator Lautenberg from New Jersey in support of this amendment which would strike section 808 of the FAA reauthorization bill. I would like to explain why. The 30,000-foot view is, if enacted, it would impose a significant and unfair burden on airlines that have done the most to provide for secure retirements for their former employees or their employees who will retire. This amendment will make sure Congress does not jeopardize the pensions of 50,000 of my constituents in Texas who depend on the airline industry for their retirement, their nest egg, that they will retire on when they leave active duty. Also, if this amendment is passed, it will relieve a significant competitive disadvantage some airlines, not coincidentally a couple headquartered in my State, American and Continental, would operate under, if the Finance Committee proposal would prevail. That is why I support striking section 808 of the FAA authorization bill.”