Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Essential Air Service Reform Act”.
Essential Air Service Reform Act
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Transportation to consider the cost of providing basic essential air service when selecting applicants for the essential air service program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Basic essential air service
Sec. 3 Availability of compensation
Section 41733(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in subparagraph (D) by striking “, giving substantial weight to the views of the elected officials representing the users”;
in subparagraph (E) by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (F) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”’ and
by adding at the end the following:
“(G) the overall cost of the bid submitted by the applicant to provide basic essential air service to the eligible place.”
Sec. 4 Notification to Congress
Upon entering into an essential air service contract with an air carrier under subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a notification that the Secretary has entered into such contract and an explanation for awarding such contract.