Senate Transportation Committee Meeting

AS Sent out by FARE Please call your Senator on the transportation commitee (listed below) and ask for the Markey Amendment. The meeting is Wednesday March 16, 2016

Action Needed Today on Airline Legislation

As you are likely aware, for eight months FARE has been leading an effort to make airlines safer for people with food allergies. This includes our support of personnel who are meeting with legislators in Washington DC to garner backing for these efforts. Many of you have already sent letters of support to your Senators, and for this we thank you.

There has been an important development in this effort and we once again come to you for your assistance. This Wednesday, March 16, the Senate Transportation Committee will consider legislation related to the Federal Aviation Administration. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) will offer an amendment requiring a General Accountability Office study regarding airline policies for passengers with food allergies. This study looks into:

• the policies of air carriers and whether they are consistently followed

• the possibility of a model policy for passengers with food allergies

• the incidence of in-flight allergic reactions and use of epinephrine

• the incidence and cost of emergency landings

One or more of your U.S. senators is a member of the Transportation Committee. Please call his or her office today to encourage the senator to vote for the Markey amendment on airline policies regarding food allergies. It is only necessary to call the senator(s) on the committee at this time. When you call, ask to speak to the staff person who handles Federal Aviation Administration issues. Introduce yourself as a resident of the state, explain your interest in food allergies, and ask for the senator’s support for the Markey amendment.

Contact information is as follows:

Alaska: Senator Dan Sullivan 202-224-3004

Colorado: Senator Cory Gardner 202-224-5941

Florida: Senator Bill Nelson 202-224-5274 and Senator Marco Rubio 202-224-3041

Hawaii: Senator Brian Schatz 202-224-3934

Kansas: Senator Jerry Moran 202-224-6521

Michigan: Senator Gary Peters 202-224-6221

Minnesota: Senator Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244

Mississippi: Senator Roger Wicker 202-224-6253

Missouri: Senator Roy Blunt 202-224-5721 and Senator Claire McCaskill 202-224-6154

Montana: Senator Steve Daines 202-224-2651

Nebraska: Senator Deb Fischer 202-224-6551

Nevada: Senator Dean Heller 202-224-6244

New Hampshire: Senator Kelly Ayotte 202-224-3324

New Jersey: Senator Cory Booker 202-224-3224

New Mexico: Senator Tom Udall 202-224-6621

South Dakota: Senator John Thune 202-224-2321

Texas: Senator Ted Cruz 202-224-5922

Washington: Senator Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441

West Virginia: Senator Joe Manchin 202-224-3954

Wisconsin: Senator Ron Johnson 202-224-5323

If you get an indication as to whether the senator will (or will not) support the amendment, please send a quick email to Scott Riccio, Senior Vice President at FARE, atsriccio@foodallergy.org.

Thank you for participating in this important FARE advocacy effort.

Jennifer Jobrack Senior National Director of Advocacy Food Allergy Research & Education