| The United States Department of | | | | authority to unilaterally make such a change. |
| Transportation (DOT) on February 8, 2005, | | | | Yet it does not begin to reveal all of the |
| presented its decision before the U.S. House | | | | implications of such a historic shift in |
| of Representatives House Aviation | | | | policy in bypassing the U.S. Congress in |
| Sub-Committee, to change a rule which would | | | | order to do so.Trade negotiations with the |
| clear the way for foreign corporations to own | | | | European Union to loosen up regulations in |
| and control U.S. airlines. But members of the | | | | ownership of U.S. airlines is seen as a |
| House Aviation Sub-Committee were all in | | | | tradeoff by the DOT in order for the U.S. |
| agreement that the DOT may lack the legal | | | | |