Teacher:In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Teacher: Now, understand the problem? Solve this instance: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Airline Competition Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Air carrier.--The term ''air carrier'' has the meaning
given that term in section 40102(2) of title 49, United States
Code.
(2) Aircraft.--The term ''aircraft'' has the meaning given
that term in section 40102(6) of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Airport.--The term ''airport'' has the meaning given
that term in section 40102(9) of title 49, United States Code.
(4) Attorney general.--The term ''Attorney General'' means
the Attorney General of the United States.
(5) Secretary.--The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.

SEC. 3. PREFERENCE FOR LOW-COMPETITION AIRPORTS.

(a) Definitions.--Section 41714(h) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(5) and (6), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
''(3) Large hub airport.--The term 'large hub airport'
means an airport described in section 47134(d)(2).
''(4) Low-competition airport.--The term 'low-competition
airport' means an airport that--
''(A) is not a large hub airport; and
''(B) the Secretary determines has substantially--
''(i) less service than the average service
at airports in the United States; or
''(ii) higher airfares than average
airfares for airports in the United States.''.
(b) Preference.--Section 41714(c)(1) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ''In granting
exemptions under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give preference to
air transportation provided to low-competition airports that are
located within a 500-mile radius of a high density airport.''.

SEC. 4. UNFAIR COMPETITION.

(a) Guidelines.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General,
shall issue regulations that define predatory practices and unfair
methods of competition of air carriers for the purposes of applying
this Act to complaints of predatory practices or unfair methods of
competition filed under section 41712 of title 49, United States Code,
or any other applicable provision of law.
(b) Determinations Regarding Actions Filed.--
(1) Actions filed before the date of enactment of this
act.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall complete action on any complaint
alleging a predatory practice or unfair method of competition
by an air carrier that was filed with the Secretary under
section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, or any other
applicable provision of law before the date of enactment of
this Act.
(2) Actions filed on or after the date of enactment of this
act.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after a
complaint alleging a predatory practice or unfair
method of competition by an air carrier is filed with
the Secretary under section 41712 of title 49, United
States Code, or any other applicable provision of law,
the Secretary shall make an initial finding concerning
whether the practice that is the subject of the
complaint constitutes a predatory practice or unfair
method of competition.
(B) Applicability.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply to
a complaint filed with the Secretary on or after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Restraining Orders.--
(1) In general.--In a manner consistent with section 41712
or any other applicable provision of law, the Secretary shall
enjoin, pending final determination, any action of an air
carrier that the Secretary finds to be a predatory practice or
unfair method of competition under subsection (b).
(2) Period for taking action.--The Secretary shall carry
out the requirements of paragraph (1) not later than 15 days
after an initial finding is made with respect to a complaint
under subsection (b) (or if the initial finding is made before
the date of enactment of this Act, not later than 15 days after
the date of enactment of this Act).

SEC. 5. LIMITS ON COMPETITION IN AVIATION INDUSTRY.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report
concerning barriers to entry, predatory practices (including pricing),
and other limits on competition in the aviation industry.

SEC. 6. PROVISIONS TO PREVENT INCREASED AIRCRAFT NOISE.

(a) Secretarial Authority Under This Act.--Nothing in this Act or
the amendments made by this Act shall authorize the Secretary to take
any action that would increase aircraft noise in any community in the
vicinity of an airport.
(b) Stage 4 Noise Levels.--
(1) Proposed regulations.--Section 47523 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
''(c) Stage 4 Noise Levels.--
''(1) Proposed regulations.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of the Airline Competition Act of 1999,
the Secretary shall issue proposed regulations that--
''(A) establish, in a manner consistent with this
chapter, stage 4 noise levels applicable to aircraft
designated by the Secretary as stage 4 aircraft; and
''(B) provide for the implementation of the stage 4
noise level requirements by the date that is 36 months
after the date of issuance of the proposed regulations.
''(2) Criteria for noise levels.--The stage 4 noise levels
established under this subsection shall--
''(A) provide for a significant reduction in the
level of noise generated by aircraft; and
''(B) be consistent with the noise levels
attainable through the use of the most effective noise
control technology available for stage 3 aircraft (as
that term is used under section 47524(c)), as of
January 1, 1999.''.
(2) Legislative proposals.--At the same time as the
Secretary issues proposed regulations under section 47523(c) of
title 49, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1) of this
subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress such
proposed legislation (including amendments to chapter 475 of
title 49, United States Code) as is necessary to ensure the
implementation of stage 4 noise levels (as that term is used in
such section 47523(c)).

SEC. 7. CLARIFICATION OF LEGAL STANDING.

Section 41713(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
''(5) This subsection shall not bar any cause of action brought
against an air carrier by 1 or more private parties seeking to enforce
any right under the common law of any State or under any State statute,
other than a statute purporting to directly prescribe fares, routes, or
levels of air transportation service.''.
Student:
Airline Competition Act of 1999 - Amends Federal aviation law to make eligible large hub airports and low-competition airports for slots (takeoff and landing authority) for air carriers providing essential air service at such airports. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to give preference in granting an exemption from certain requirements limiting takeoffs and landings at high density airports to air transportation provided to low-competition airports that are located within a 500-mile radius of a high density airport.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to issue regulations that define predatory practices and unfair methods of competition of air carriers for purposes of applying this Act to complaints of such practices under section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, or any other applicable provision of law. Directs the Secretary to: (1) after a complaint alleging a predatory practice or unfair method of competition by an air carrier is filed on or after enactment of this Act with the Secretary under section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, or any other applicable provision of law, make an initial finding of whether such practice that is the subject of the complaint constitutes a predatory practice or unfair method of competition; and (2) complete action on such complaints filed with the Secretary before enactment of this Act.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress concerning barriers to entry, predatory practices (including pricing), and other limits on competition in the aviation industry.
(Sec. 6) Declares that nothing in this Act shall authorize the Secretary to take action that would increase aircraft noise in any community in the vicinity of an airport.
Directs the Secretary to issue proposed regulations that establish and implement stage 4 noise levels which provide for the significant reduction in the noise level of, and which are consistent with levels attainable through the use of the most effective noise control technology available for stage 3 aircraft as of January 1, 1999, for, stage 4 aircraft.
(Sec. 7) Amends Federal aviation law provisions prohibiting State regulation of air prices, routes, and services to declare that such provisions shall not bar a cause of action brought against an air carrier by one or more private parties seeking to enforce any right under the common law of any State or State statute other than a statute purporting to directly prescribe fares, routes, or levels of air transportation service.