Bill 119 hr 2132, also known as the Northern Mariana Islands Essential Air Service Act, aims to make changes to title 49 of the United States Code in order to exempt the Northern Mariana Islands from certain eligibility requi...
rements for the Essential Air Service program. The Essential Air Service program provides federal subsidies to airlines serving rural and remote communities to ensure they have access to air transportation.
The Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory located in the Pacific Ocean, currently faces challenges in maintaining air service due to its remote location and limited population. This bill seeks to address these challenges by exempting the Northern Mariana Islands from certain eligibility requirements for the Essential Air Service program, making it easier for airlines to provide air transportation to the islands.
In addition to exempting the Northern Mariana Islands from certain eligibility requirements, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to air transportation in the region. These provisions aim to improve access to air service for residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and support the economic development of the region.
Overall, the Northern Mariana Islands Essential Air Service Act is designed to address the unique challenges faced by the Northern Mariana Islands in maintaining air service and to ensure that residents of the islands have access to essential air transportation.