{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-begich-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-reliability-for-essential-air-service-passengers", "Reps. Tokuda, Begich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Reliability for Essential Air Service Passengers", "2025-06-27", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced the Essential Air Service (EAS) Reliability Act, which would require EAS carriers to have a plan to accommodate passengers in the event of unexpected cancellations.\n\nThe EAS program helps air carriers maintain scheduled service to over 100 small regional airports across the country, ensuring residents in rural and remote communities stay connected to the national air transportation system. This bill would require EAS carriers to include contingency plans for maintenance or other non-weather-related service disruptions as part of the competitive application process for EAS contracts.\n\n\u201cReliable air service is more than just convenience, it\u2019s an essential lifeline. People in Hawai\u2019i depend on inter-island transportation to access healthcare, get to work, and connect with loved ones. Our communities need consistent air service, and we can\u2019t afford to let essential services be jeopardized by poor planning or unreliable operations,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThis bill is an important step to ensure EAS carriers do their part to deliver more reliable service without compromising safety. It\u2019s not just about holding them accountable when things go wrong \u2013 it\u2019s about making sure they have solid backup plans to avoid such problems in the first place. Our people shouldn\u2019t have to worry about getting stranded.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska has a vast interconnected aviation system and air travel remains a critical component of daily life for many across our state. Our expansive aviation network connects 65 rural communities through the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, ensuring access to vital services. As we advance into the 21st century, it's imperative to enhance both the safety and reliability of our aviation sector,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cThis legislation takes an important step towards addressing reliability by mandating that EAS carriers include comprehensive contingency plans for maintenance and other non-weather-related disruptions in their contract applications. I'm proud to collaborate with Rep. Tokuda on this initiative, helping ensure that our rural communities continue to receive dependable and secure air services.\u201d\n\nIn Hawai\u2019i, Mokulele Airlines currently services all four EAS routes, which include flights to Kaulapapa, L\u0101na\u2018i, H\u0101na and Kamuela. Earlier this year, Mokulele, grounded their entire fleet without warning, leaving these communities with no alternative means of transportation to critical healthcare, employment, and government services on other islands. This was the second time in less than a year that EAS flights were unexpectedly cancelled for a prolonged period in the state.\n\nRep. Tokuda has actively engaged with airline stakeholders and federal agencies to address the reliability of EAS service in Hawai\u2018i and prevent future outages. At her request, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued reporting requirements as part of Mokulele\u2019s renewed EAS contracts for service to L\u0101na\u2018i and Kaulapapa to increase accountability and ensure more consistent and dependable routes.\n\nCosponsors of the Essential Air Service Reliability Act include: Reps. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-CNMI), Hillary Scholten (D-MI).\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-begich-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-reliability-for-essential-air-service-passengers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 5.865367129445076, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}