Rahall Statement on Transparent Airfares Act of 2014

STATEMENT OF
THE HONORABLE NICK J. RAHALL, II
FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP
H.R. 4156, THE TRANSPARENT AIRFARES ACT OF 2014
APRIL 9, 2014

Thank you, Chairman Shuster.

This bill does a very important thing—it stops the government from playing a shell game with the taxes and fees it imposes on the flying public.  Simply put, it restores truth in advertising when it comes to the cost of a flight, finally putting consumers back in the driver’s seat.

Hiding the real cost of flying from consumers is just plain wrong. Today, Americans demand more disclosure, not less.

I am an original cosponsor of this bill because I do not believe that government-mandated false advertizing is the way to go. It is time to give the traveling public better information by restoring airfare advertising rules that worked well for 25 years.

The Transparent Airfares Act is a common sense, bipartisan bill that has broad support from the aviation community, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, and Airlines for America.  

I urge my colleagues to support this bill to increase transparency and empower the flying public.

Mr. Chairman, thank you and I yield back.