# City ofTay{orvi{{e

OFFICE OFTHE MAYOR Greg Brotherton May 13,2015

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx Secretary ofTransportation US Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Ave SE Washington, DC 20590

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary ofState US Department ofState 2201 CStreet NW Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretaries Foxx and Kerry,

- 

### A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE

The United States must protectthe Open Skies agreements in the interest ofsmall townjobs and economies. I supportthe Open Skies agreements, and am requesting thatyou open consultations between ourgovernment and the governments of.the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to address the $42 billion in subsidies received by their-state-owned carriers.

State and national leaders must work to ensure fair competition among U.S. and Gulfcarriers in orderto protectthe economies and jobs in Illinois communities. Residents all overthe state of Illinois rely on air transit routes from local hubs to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, routes that American Airlines and United Airlines have invested in to connect Illinoisans to the rest ofthe world.


### My constituents in Taylorville are able to avoid making the longjourneyto Chicago when they seek to travel nationally and internationally, thanks to the United and American Airlines. These airlines connect nearby small towns to Chicago by smaller airports in Springfield and Decatur. This saves Taylorville residents time and money, and provides convenience that will be taken away if unfair competition among international airlines is allowed to continue.

American Airlines and United Airlines have notonly connected residents ofsouthern Illinois with the rest ofthe world through these airtransit routes, butthey have also created 25,000jobs for individuals across the state. It is essential that we fightforthesejobs, which will be lost ifthese airlines are forced to cut air service that would be preserved if not for Gulfstate subsidies.



## §1lllf111111:11ll.nicipal Building • 115 North Main Street • Taylorville, Illinois 62568-1944 Phone: (217) 287-7946 • Fax: (217) 824-8752 • Email: mayor@taylorville.net • www.taylorville.netAlthough the Open Skies agreement has to do with international air carriers, the unfair competition will have a heavy impact on small town communities in states like Illinois. Ifthese unfair practices are allowed to continue, itwill be to the detriment of Illinois communities.

IfGulfstates continue to subsidize their airlines to give them the upper-hand, U.S. airlines will have to cut their services on international routes as well as the routes that currently connect Taylorville residents to largertransit hubs in Chicago and St. Louis. Jobs will be lost in our local Illinois communities, and we will be cut offfrom easy access to travel. For these reasons it is imperative that we stand up forthe Open Skies agreement and restore a level playing field for all airlines.
Sincerely,

# ~t~ MayorofTaylorville, Illinois



### cc: Senator Dick Durbin (O-IL) Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) Governor Bruce Rauner (R-IL)



# s 10-150518-041

## CITY OF TAYLORVILLE Municipal Building 115 North Main Street Taylorville, Illinois 62568



# s 10-150518-041**~he** 

### HonorablP**~ntho ny**  

### R. Foxx Secretary of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE Washington, DC 20590