Berkley seeks funds for National Airlines

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., today made an effort to help struggling National Airlines secure federal money.

Berkley was frustrated that the Las Vegas-based carrier was left out of a $10 billion loan guarantee program after Sept. 11. So she asked the House Transportation subcommittee on aviation for a resolution that the Air Transportation Stabilization Board would give equal loan consideration to small airlines as well as major carriers.

The panel approved the resolution as an amendment to a bill pending in Congress that would re-open a federal loan guarantee program in the event of a war with Iraq, which airline executives fear will drive the price of fuel higher.

The panel approved another Berkley amendment that would require the Transportation Secretary to hold a "stakeholders" conference on new airline security measures.

Some travel agents and other tourism-related players are worried about the expense and inconvenience of flying and feel like they have been left out of new rule-making, Berkley said.

It was not immediately clear if Congress would try to pass the legislation this year.