Hudson Bill to Cut Taxes on Air Travelers Unanimously Passes U.S. Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC, chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, released the following statement after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed H.R. 5462, bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Hudson to limit the fees charged to passengers of air carriers and clarify Congressional intent. This legislation was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives in September, and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Rep. Hudson: “In tough economic times, I know that every extra dollar spent on more fees and taxes adds up. Rolling back fees and reducing taxes on airline passengers benefits everyone – from helping families save money when traveling for the holidays to cutting costs for small businesses whose employees travel for work.

“I’m proud of the bipartisan, bicameral support this legislation received, and I hope the president will join us in our efforts to save American taxpayers from shelling out millions of dollars in extra fees. I came to Washington to make life better for folks in North Carolina, and I remain committed to working with leaders on both sides of the aisle to champion real solutions like this.”

Background

Since September 11, 2001, aviation user fees have helped to cover security costs and ensure that our vital aviation network remains safe. Congress simplified the aviation user fee structure last year by creating a flat $5.60 fee per one-way trip, with the intent of keeping a round trip cap in place. Instead, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun charging this fee without a round trip cap, significantly increasing fees for air passengers, especially those in small, rural communities who must take multiple flights to get to their final destination.

H.R. 5462 is commonsense, bipartisan legislation to correct this overreach and clarify the fee structure that Congress intended. This legislation will protect the traveling public from excess charges and make air travel more accessible, leading to more frequent trips, increased tourism and more dollars invested in our local economies.

To watch Rep. Hudson’s remarks in support of this bill, please click here.

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