Hudson: Rolling back airline passenger fees

I ran for Congress so I could fight for the people of North Carolina’s Eighth District.

Like so many of you, I felt like Washington was not listening to us and our government was at a standstill, paralyzed by partisanship and politics. Since my first days as your representative, I have worked hard to find commonsense solutions to our nation’s problems by working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I have strived to define myself not only by my actions as someone who gets the job done, but by my results as someone who can affect needed change.

Unlike some of my colleagues, I didn’t come to Washington to merely vote yes or no on legislation. I came to Washington to roll up my sleeves, be an advocate for issues important to you, and ensure that polices are put in place to empower individuals, families and job creators in our community instead of government bureaucrats.

I am very proud of my accomplishments that directly benefit our district, including getting Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to commit to repairing the damaged roads in the Uwharrie Forest, keeping the doors open at the 440th Airlift Wing and preventing devastating cuts to contract control towers at our regional airports.

In Congress, I’ve had tremendous success in creating coalitions of support on broader issues like improving job training programs, reforming the way federal agencies like TSA spend taxpayer money on new technology and equipment, and preventing businesses from being required to automatically enroll new employees in Obamacare, because I am upfront with my colleagues and try to bring everyone to the table for an open and honest discussion.

I’ve had four bills pass the U.S. House of Representatives, which is a major accomplishment in a town wrecked with partisan gridlock.There’s a lot of talk about the “do-nothing Congress,” but these bills show that Democrats and Republicans can work together and the problem with Congress all starts with Senator Reid and the “do-nothing Senate” who refuses to even consider hundreds of House-passed bills. I can assure you that my colleagues in the House and I are working daily to find solutions that help get people back to work, lower costs and restore opportunity for everyone.

Just last week, H.R. 5462, my bipartisan bill to roll back aviation user fees and reduce taxes on airline passengers, unanimously passed the House, 423 – 0. While this issue isn’t flashy and likely won’t gain widespread national attention, it is an issue that truly matters to air travelers and directly affects American taxpayers’ wallets.

Since September 11, 2001, aviation user fees have helped to cover security costs and ensure that our vital aviation network remains safe. Congress simplified the aviation user fee structure last year by creating a flat $5.60 fee per one-way trip, with the intent of keeping a round trip cap in place. Instead, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun charging this fee without a round trip cap, significantly increasing fees for air passengers, especially those in small, rural communities who must take multiple flights to get to their final destination.

Rolling back aviation user fees and reducing taxes on airline passengers benefits everyone – from helping families save money when taking a vacation to cutting costs for our small businesses whose employees travel for work.  In tough economic times, I know that every extra dollar spent on more fees and taxes add up and folks simply can’t afford it. H.R. 5462 corrects this overreach and saves American taxpayers from shelling out millions of dollars in extra fees by reinstating the round trip cap.

You all sent me to Washington to be principled conservative who is willing to work across the aisle and fight for you and your priorities. I’ve worked hard not only to hopefully exceed your expectation, but also to make myself as accessible as possible and to represent you the best that I can. While I’m honored by what you have allowed me to accomplish thus far, there is still work to be done and I remain committed to finding solutions that help make life better for you and your families.