Tomorrow: Rep. Mike Thompson to Introduce Air Passenger Bill of Rights at Press Conference
Air Passenger Protection Bill Would Protect Fliers from Excessive Tarmac Waits, Other Airline Abuses
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) will hold a press conference to introduce the Air Passenger Bill of Rights Act of 2011 on Tuesday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. EST in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B318. Rep. Thompson will be joined by Kate Hanni, Founder of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights, who will echo the Congressman's call for crucial passenger protections like a "three-hour rule" that would require air carriers to offer passengers the option to deplane if 3 hours have passed on a tarmac. Edmund Mierzwinski of U.S. PIRG, Sally Greenberg of the National Consumers League, and Kara Kelber of Consumers Union – the nonprofit organization that publishes Consumer Reports magazine – will also participate in the press conference.
The press conference comes one day after the fourth anniversary of the infamous Valentine's Day ice storm of 2007, which resulted in hundreds of passengers being stranded on tarmacs without food, water, access to medical facilities, and with overflowing toilets. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has been urged to address these abuses on Wednesday, when the Committee begins mark-up of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.
Who: Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) |
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Kate Hanni, Founder of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights |
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Edmund Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director for U.S. PIRG |
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Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League |
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Kara Kelber, Media Relations Associate at Consumers Union |
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What: Press conference introducing the Air Passenger Bill of Rights Act of 2011 |
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When: 10:00-11:00 a.m. EST |
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Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Room B318 (located at 45 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C.) |
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Please note that the details of this event are subject to change. If you are a reporter planning to attend the press conference, please verify the details with Caroline Hogan, Congressman Thompson's Communications Director, at (202) 226-7364 or [email protected].
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and a Co-Chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus.
CONTACT: Caroline Hogan, +1-202-226-7364
SOURCE FlyersRights.org
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