WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Susan Collins is cosponsoring an amendment to the Transportation-Treasury-HUD-Judiciary-D.C. (TTHUD) bill introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would increase funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program by $17 million for Fiscal Year 2006. This increase would bring total funding for the program to $127 million. Four airports in Maine rely on EAS support: Augusta State Airport, Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, Knox County Airport in Rockland, and Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle.
"The EAS program is critical in states like Maine where many small, remote communities would not have access to scheduled air service without support from the EAS program," Senator Collins said. "EAS communities and the airlines that serve these communities were already struggling prior to September 11th, and ensuring adequate air service in our smaller communities must remain a high priority."
The EAS program was established when Congress deregulated commercial aviation in 1978 in order to preserve air service to small communities.
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