Transparent Airfares Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4156
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]
Introduced: 2014-03-06
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Consumer affairs

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Marketing and advertising

Sales and excise taxes

Transportation costs

Travel and tourism
Latest action: action_date: 2014-07-29
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-03-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 - Declares that it shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier or other covered entity to state the base airfare in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation if it clearly and separately discloses: (1) the government-imposed taxes and fees for the air transportation, and (2) its total cost.</p> <p>Defines &quot;base airfare&quot; to mean the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees.</p> <p>Defines &quot;covered entity&quot; as an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. </p>

action_date: 2014-07-24
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 - Declares that it shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier or other covered entity to state the base airfare in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation if it clearly and separately discloses: (1) the government-imposed taxes and fees for the air transportation, and (2) its total cost.</p> <p>Defines &quot;base airfare&quot; to mean the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees.</p> <p>Defines &quot;covered entity&quot; as an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. </p>

action_date: 2014-07-28
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 - Declares that it shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice for an air carrier or other covered entity to state the base airfare in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation if it clearly and separately discloses: (1) the government-imposed taxes and fees for the air transportation, and (2) its total cost.</p> <p>Defines &quot;base airfare&quot; to mean the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees.</p> <p>Defines &quot;covered entity&quot; as an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. </p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 6, 2014 Mr. Shuster (for himself, Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Graves of Georgia , Mr. Rahall , Mr. LoBiondo , and Mr. Larsen of Washington ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation to state the base airfare of the transportation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 . 2. Advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation (a) Full fare advertising Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Full fare advertising (1) In general It shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for a covered entity to state in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation the base airfare for the air transportation if the covered entity clearly and separately discloses— (A) the government-imposed taxes and fees associated with the air transportation; and (B) the total cost of the air transportation. (2) Form of disclosure (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) shall be disclosed in the advertisement or solicitation in a manner that clearly presents the information to the consumer. (B) Internet advertisements and solicitations For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation that appears on an Internet Web site, the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) may be disclosed through a link or pop-up, as such terms may be defined by the Secretary, that displays the information in a manner that is easily accessible and viewable by the consumer. (3) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Base airfare The term base airfare means the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. (B) Covered entity The term covered entity means an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. . (b) Limitation on statutory construction Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) may be construed to affect any obligation of a person that sells air transportation to disclose the total cost of the air transportation, including government-imposed taxes and fees, prior to purchase of the air transportation. (c) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a). (d) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the earlier of— (1) the effective date of regulations issued under subsection (c); and (2) the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

tv_txt: IB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation to state the base airfare of the transportation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 . 2. Advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation (a) Full fare advertising Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Full fare advertising (1) In general It shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for a covered entity to state in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation the base airfare for the air transportation if the covered entity clearly and separately discloses— (A) the government-imposed taxes and fees associated with the air transportation; and (B) the total cost of the air transportation. (2) Form of disclosure (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) shall be disclosed in the advertisement or solicitation in a manner that clearly presents the information to the consumer. (B) Internet advertisements and solicitations For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation that appears on an Internet Web site, the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) may be disclosed through a link or pop-up, as such terms may be defined by the Secretary, that displays the information in a manner that is easily accessible and viewable by the consumer. (3) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Base airfare The term base airfare means the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. (B) Covered entity The term covered entity means an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. . (b) Limitation on statutory construction Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) may be construed to affect any obligation of a person that sells air transportation to disclose the total cost of the air transportation, including government-imposed taxes and fees, prior to purchase of the air transportation. (c) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a). (d) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the earlier of— (1) the effective date of regulations issued under subsection (c); and (2) the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 414 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4156 [Report No. 113–554] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 6, 2014 Mr. Shuster (for himself, Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Graves of Georgia , Mr. Rahall , Mr. LoBiondo , and Mr. Larsen of Washington ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure July 24, 2014 Additional sponsors: Mr. Farenthold , Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois , Mr. Williams , Mr. Young of Alaska , Mr. Sires , Mr. Meehan , Mr. Southerland , Mr. Ribble , Mr. Lipinski , Mrs. Capito , Ms. Norton , Mr. Enyart , Mr. Renacci , Mr. Jones , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Ms. Titus , Mr. Peterson , Mr. Veasey , Mrs. Bustos , Mr. Westmoreland , Mr. Rice of South Carolina , Mr. Sanford , Mr. Barletta , Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas , Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Mr. Garcia , Mr. Hastings of Florida , Mr. Schrader , Ms. Wilson of Florida , Mr. Terry , Ms. Frankel of Florida , Mrs. Wagner , Mr. Bentivolio , Mr. Gohmert , Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas , Mr. Olson , Mr. Mullin , Mrs. Bachmann , Mr. McCaul , Mr. Poe of Texas , Mr. Culberson , Mr. Hensarling , Mr. Hall , and Mr. Gibbs July 24, 2014 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation to state the base airfare of the transportation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 . 2. Advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation (a) Full fare advertising Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Full fare advertising (1) In general It shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for a covered entity to state in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation the base airfare for the air transportation if the covered entity clearly and separately discloses— (A) the government-imposed taxes and fees associated with the air transportation; and (B) the total cost of the air transportation. (2) Form of disclosure (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) shall be disclosed in the advertisement or solicitation in a manner that clearly presents the information to the consumer. (B) Internet advertisements and solicitations For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation that appears on an Internet Web site, the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) may be disclosed through a link or pop-up, as such terms may be defined by the Secretary, that displays the information in a manner that is easily accessible and viewable by the consumer. (3) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Base airfare The term base airfare means the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. (B) Covered entity The term covered entity means an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. . (b) Limitation on statutory construction Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) may be construed to affect any obligation of a person that sells air transportation to disclose the total cost of the air transportation, including government-imposed taxes and fees, prior to purchase of the air transportation. (c) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a). (d) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the earlier of— (1) the effective date of regulations issued under subsection (c); and (2) the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

July 24, 2014 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: IIB 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4156 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2014 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation to state the base airfare of the transportation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparent Airfares Act of 2014 . 2. Advertisements and solicitations for passenger air transportation (a) Full fare advertising Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (d) Full fare advertising (1) In general It shall not be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for a covered entity to state in an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation the base airfare for the air transportation if the covered entity clearly and separately discloses— (A) the government-imposed taxes and fees associated with the air transportation; and (B) the total cost of the air transportation. (2) Form of disclosure (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) shall be disclosed in the advertisement or solicitation in a manner that clearly presents the information to the consumer. (B) Internet advertisements and solicitations For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to an advertisement or solicitation for passenger air transportation that appears on an Internet Web site, the information described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) may be disclosed through a link or pop-up, as such terms may be defined by the Secretary, that displays the information in a manner that is easily accessible and viewable by the consumer. (3) Definitions In this subsection, the following definitions apply: (A) Base airfare The term base airfare means the cost of passenger air transportation, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. (B) Covered entity The term covered entity means an air carrier, including an indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, or other person offering to sell tickets for passenger air transportation or a tour or tour component that must be purchased with air transportation. . (b) Limitation on statutory construction Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) may be construed to affect any obligation of a person that sells air transportation to disclose the total cost of the air transportation, including government-imposed taxes and fees, prior to purchase of the air transportation. (c) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a). (d) Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the earlier of— (1) the effective date of regulations issued under subsection (c); and (2) the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2014. Karen L. Haas, Clerk