Press Releases

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Full Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), released the following statement on the European Union’s reported agreement to reverse plans to impose a carbon tax on non-EU carriers operating long haul flights in and out of Europe:

“Aviation is a global industry and we are pleased the EU now appears to be focused on working with the international community rather than unilaterally imposing an emissions tax on other nations' air carriers.”

Last year, the bipartisan leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee wrote (click here for letter) to Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx urging him to protect U.S. aircraft operators from unfairly being subjected to the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while a global plan to reduce emissions is being developed.

Shuster, Rahall, LoBiondo, and Larsen were also instrumental in the passage of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-200), legislation that directs the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit U.S. aircraft operators from participating in the EU’s aviation emissions cap and trade system.  The law also instructs U.S. officials to ensure U.S. aviation operators are not penalized by any unilaterally imposed EU emissions trading schemes.

#   #   #