TRAVEL AGENTS OF AMERICA 

PURPOSE:

THE PURPOSE OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON is to draw the attention of The United States Congress, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, and the American people to a multiplicity of travel agent and consumer-related issues and proposed solutions to these issues that if not addressed soon threaten to eliminate the travel agent industry in America and its 27,000 mostly small businesses and over 200,000 jobs. The issues we intend to address have been forming and increasing their adverse impact on travel agencies for over six years. Moreover, the impact of these issues on the financial viability of travel agencies has recently been magnified by the horrible events of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to the extent that most travel agencies now find themselves in a dangerously precarious financial condition. Unlike the airline industry that is needing a financial bailout by the taxpayers of America, the travel agency industry is simply asking for a level playing field where consumers have a choice in both the airline they fly and who they decide to purchase their tickets from, either a single brand supplier, or as in most other retail industries, an independent unbiased retail merchant with access to multiple brands at varying prices, not to mention the superior personal service that only local retail merchants can provide. It's time travel agents from all walks of life exercise their first amendment rights to finally make their government and the nation aware of their plight, an entire marketplace gone bad, one characterized by price discrimination, supplier collusion, predatory airline/agency practices, and a coordinated effort by suppliers (airlines) to eliminate retail distributors (travel agents) from an entire industry in a manner not witnessed in America since the oil industry of the early 1900's. Independent retail distributors and retailers of refined oil products have protection under antitrust laws from the temptation of oil suppliers to systematically eliminate all retail gasoline stations from their marketplace except for supplier company-owned stores. But it appears that travel agencies do not have this same protection under existing laws. Whether because of lack of enforcement of existing laws or the need for new laws, it's time to tell the nation the truth about what the airlines are doing to eliminate travel agencies, and ask for immediate legislative or injunctive relief.
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THE MISSION:

THE MISSION OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON IS:
  1. To secure the introduction and passage of new comprehensive emergency legislation in the United States Congress, "The Travel Agent Consumer Protection Act of 2001", (see 'New Legislation').
  2. To secure the enforcement of our nation's antitrust laws by the Department of Justice against the nations major airlines, including Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, (which the federal government exempted the airline industry from in the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, a mistake that needs to be corrected), and the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936.
  3. To secure from the Department of Justice focused antitrust immunity that would provide the right of travel agents to collectively negotiate with the airlines for adequate compensation for the services travel agents provide to the airlines.
  4. To secure from the Department of Transportation a commitment to actively enforce consumer and distributor protection laws that the DOT is presently responsible for enforcing solely against the airline industry, laws that normally would be the responsibility of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in all other interstate retail trade.
  5. To change the attitude in Washington within all branches of the federal government that has historically said, 'the airline industry is different, so we must treat them differently.' The Federal Trade Commission is well equipped to deal with anticompetitive behavior in many other industries. It's time the airline industry be made to conform to the common sense laws and rules of fair play that are defined by federal statute law, federal case law, and uniform standards of consistent enforcement that can only be accomplished through a single enforcement agency.
  6. To secure a fair, level playing field and unfettered entrepreneurial opportunity for hard-working retail travel agents to pursue once again a genuine opportunity to succeed as businessmen and businesswomen in the retail travel industry.
  7. To secure the awareness of the federal government and the nation of the valuable role that travel agents provide to millions of consumers, especially in times of family tragedy or national emergency, and yes even to the airlines, many of whose own internet customers found their only source of assistance during the previous week to be 200,000 to 300,000 live, warm-blooded travel agents, professionals who could actually help, who had compassion, and who also served a nation in time of need.
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TACTICAL OBJECTIVES:

    TACTICAL OBJECTIVES:
  1. CONDUCT INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS BETWEEN TRAVEL AGENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE FROM ALL 50 STATES: During the optional pre-march day on Thursday, October 4th, you are urged to make appointments with your Congressman and with both of your Senators. (see 'plans for Oct 4th)
  2. DEMONSTRATION/RALLY AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL BUILDING: On October 5th, every travel agent in America will be given an opportunity to 'have his or her voice heard' in an exercise of your first amendment rights in support of new legislation needed to level the playing field between airlines and travel agents. Members of Congress as well as members of the travel agency industry will be invited to address our gathering. (see plans for Oct 5th)
  3. MARCH FROM THE CAPITOL BUILDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: With police escort, we shall march down Pennsylvania Ave. the approximately six blocks to the Department of Justice Building. (see plans for Oct 5th)
  4. DEMONSTRATION/RALLY AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: In a manner similar to the rally at the Capitol Building, we shall use this opportunity to voice our concerns and present our issues to the Department of Justice. (see plans for Oct 5th)
  5. MARCH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: With police escort, we shall march approximately six blocks down 7th Ave to the Department of Transportation where we shall use this opportunity to voice our concerns and present our issues to the Department of Transportation. (see plans for Oct 5th)
  6. SECURE CONGRESSIONAL SPONSORS IN SUPPORT OF NEW LEGISLATION, "TRAVEL AGENT CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2001": As a result of the many individual meetings between travel agents and members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, together with the combined efforts of our rallies and marches in Washington, one of the key objectives will be to secure soon Congressional sponsors of the new proposed legislation, described under "New Legislation".
  7. RECEIVE A COMMITMENT FROM BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS FOR SCHEDULED HEARINGS DURING THE CURRENT SESSION TO INVESTIGATE TRAVEL AGENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS: One of the most important objectives we could accomplish would be to receive a commitment from both the House Of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Commerce Committee for a scheduled public hearing on the concerns of the travel agent industry. Such hearings will provide the forum in which to present evidence from travel agents all over America of the predatory practices of the airlines toward travel agencies that when viewed and presented collectively clearly present a desire on the part of the nations airlines to eliminate travel agencies from the retail marketplace.


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