Senator Stevens' Statement on DOT's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Foreign Investment in U.S. Air Carriers

December 16, 2005

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today issued the following statement in response to rumors that he intends to attach a provision concerning the Department of Transportation's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on foreign investment in U.S. air carriers to the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill:

"Secretaries Rice and Mineta are to be congratulated for their work on a new aviation agreement with Europe. I support Open Skies but, like others in Congress, want to be sure that we don't sacrifice too much to achieve it. Right now I am devoting my energies to Defense Appropriations and Reconciliation, and I intend to engage DOT and the State Department on the agreement early next year. I have no plans to address it before then."

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