Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined House colleagues in halting efforts to cut funding for Essential Air Service (EAS). The House Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill was debated on the House floor today.
“EAS provides an efficient form of transportation for those traveling to and from Montana’s rural areas,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “In many of these areas, major airlines are unable to provide service due to the costs. Fortunately, EAS travel is a reliable resource to replace that missing link. Today, we were again able to prevent any cuts.”

Today, Representative Hensarling (R-TX) introduced an amendment to reduce payments to air carriers for the Essential Air Service program by $60 million. Rehberg joined with a bipartisan coalition that voted overwhelmingly to defeat the amendment.

Montana has eight EAS points, seven of which – Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point – are served by Big Sky airlines, with its code-sharing agreements and a connecting hub in Billings. Sky West airlines provides seasonal service to Montana’s eighth EAS point, West Yellowstone.

“Given Montana’s expansive size, protecting and improving transportation options like EAS is critical,” said Rehberg. “It’s an annual fight to fully fund these services for rural communities and today’s victory was a great step.”

Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee included an amendment, sponsored by Rehberg, which would increase the funding level of EAS to $110 million in turn triggering an additional $15 million in funding previously authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.