COMMONWEALTH OF VIRG INIA

H OUSE OF D ELEGATES

RICHMOND

DISTRICT: (540) 580

- 6687 • RICHMOND: (804) 698

- 1011 • EMAIL: DELSRASOUL@HOUSE.VIRGINIA.GOV COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MILITIA, POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SAM RASOUL

PO BOX 13842 ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24037

ELEVENTH DISTRICT May 22 , 2015

The Honorable John Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520

The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

The Honorable Penny S. Pritzker Secretary of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230

RE: Dockets No. DOS

- 2015

- 0016, DOT

- OST

- 2015

- 0082, and DOC

- 2015

- 0001

Dear Secretaries Kerry, Foxx and Pritzker:

As the Virginia State Delegate for the 11 th District, representing Roanoke City, I am writing to encourage you to tread lightly with respect to Open Skies. I understand the m ajor U.S. airlines

— Delta, United, and American

— are interested in seeing the government renegotiate agreements covering Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. Although I recognize that U.S. airlines must advocate for their stakeholders’ interests, I wish to u nderscore that taking the action they request would have negative consequences for individuals and businesses I represent.

Consider for a moment Roanoke’s beautiful Blue Ridge and the many draws for tourists, not just

from the U.S. but from all over the w orld. Whether seeking music festivals, shopping, and wineries downtown or the outdoor opportunities in the surrounding area, international visitors spend millions of dollars each year on hotel stays, restaurants, tours, and more.

To support and grow this market, we must have convenient, affordable air travel from a variety of

overseas destinations. The U.S. airlines can and will continue to accommodate some of these travelers, but they are less adept at serving cities in India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other emerging markets. Roanoke wants and needs to welcome visitors from these areas. Connections via Dulles International Airport are vital in achieving this objective.I must also speak up on behalf of my constituents of various ethnic backgrou nds, who rely on air

travel to stay connected to families, communities, and cultures abroad. The City of Roanoke is proud to be a multicultural hub in Western Virginia, and interaction with international communities is part of what makes us a thriving and vibrant city.

Faculty and students at local educational institutions, including my alma mater Roanoke College, expect to engage with scholars from around the world. And local constituents are increasingly interested in travelling to exciting destinations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In each of these cases, the competition fostered by the Gulf airlines is helping to expand routes, lower fares, and benefit travelers.

There can be no denying that we live in a rapidly globalizing world. The 11 t h District of Virginia wants to continue to participate in this exchange. Keeping Open Skies agreements intact will help us do so. I ask that you take our perspective into account as you move forward.

In closing, let me thank you for your hard work on beh alf of our country. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance in this or other matters.

Sincerely,

Sam Rasoul Member, Virginia House of Delegates

Eleventh District

District: 540.904.6905

Richmond: 804.698.1011

Fax: 804.698.6711