THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D
. C. 20590

The Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky U.S. Hou se of Representatives Washington , DC 20515 Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky: May 7, 2014

Thank yo u for yo ur letter regarding the app lication ofNorwegian Air International Limited (NAI) for authority to conduct U.S. services. Given that a number of interested parties have fi led responsive pleadings to NAI's application and this matter is currently pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the merits ofNAI's app lic ation. I assure you , however, that we will give full and careful cons ideratio n to all of the pleadings fi led on the record before we reach a determination in thi s matter. As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and my response in Docket DOT -OST-2013-0204, as a contact outs ide the record ofthis case. You may track the progress of this case and view the publicly avai lable documents filed in the docket by access ing the Federal Docket Management System at www.regulatio ns.gov and searching for Docket DOT-OST-2013-0204. I hope this information is helpful.

Anthony R. FoxxJAN I C E D. SC H AKOWSKY 9TH DI STRICT, ILLINOIS
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE HOUS E PE RMANEN T SELE CT CO MM I HEE ON I NT ELLIGE N CE 

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### 20515-130!1 CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP

The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 -April9, 2014 2367 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING T elephone: 202-225-2 111 Fax: 202-226 · 6890 TTY: 202-224 - 3901 5533 N
. BROADWAY, SUITE 2 CHICAGO, IL 60640 Te l ephone: 7 7 3-506 - 7100 Fax : 773-506-9202 } 852 JOHNS DRIVE GLENVIEW , IL 60025 Te l ephone: 84 7-328 - 3409 Fax: 84 7 - 328 · 3425

Re: Application ofNorwegian Air International Limited, Docket DOT-OST-2013-0204
Dear Secretary Foxx: . I am writing to express my concerns regarding the application by Norwegian Air International Limited (NAI), currently pending before the Department of Transportation. I believe that application, if approved , would seriously undermine the rights of workers and would set a dangerous precedent by allowing corporations to outsource operations to countries with weak labor protections. According to the Department of Transportation's notice of applications, (Federal Register, Volume 78, Number 243, Pages 76701-02), NAI has applied for exemption authority and for a foreign air carrier permit. The airline is seeking an operating license from Ireland in order to avoid the requirements of Norwegian labor law. That license would allow outsourcing of airline crew beyond the EU, and it is my understanding that NAI plans to " rent" pilots from a Southeast Asian employment company to allow the airline to avioid meeting higher Norwegian standards for wages and working conditions. Approval of NAI's application would allow it to adopt a business model that would undermine fair wages, working conditions and respect for workers ' rights. Approval would not only affect the workers at NAI but would put airlines that follow their countr y 's labor laws at a severe competitive disadvantage. It would set off a race to the bottom by encouraging corporations to hire workers in countries that allow low wages and benefits. It would result in the loss of jobs that provide good wages and benefits

- eroding the middle class at a time when we are desperately trying to strengthen and expand it. As a long-time proponent of workers' rights and a member of Congress who represents many airline workers, I urge you to reject NAI's application. Approval would send a signal that efforts to undermine labor law and to outsource jobs to countries with the lowest wages are acceptable, and that is clearly not in the workers' or the public interest.



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. gov PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER**··** E · MA IL : jan
. schakowsky@mail.house.govThe Honorable Anthony Foxx April 9, 2014 Page 2 Thank you for your attention.



# s 10- 140414-028 Sincerely ,
Schakowsky ember of Congress

### U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC 20515-1309 PUBLIC DOCUMENT

OFFICIAL BUSINESS



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### S10-140414-028 The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590
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