The House passed legislation designed to make it easier for the Transportation Department to block airline leveraged buy-outs. The final vote came after the House rejected Republican efforts to weaken the bill and approved two amendments sought by organized labor. The Bush administration has threatened to veto such a bill because of what it views as an undesirable intrusion into the affairs of industry, but the 300-113 vote suggests that supporters have the potential to override a veto. The broader question is where the Senate stands on the issue. While the Senate Commerce Committee has approved legislation similar to the House bill on airline leveraged buy-outs, the measure hasn't yet come to the full floor. Although the legislation would apply to acquisitions involving any major airline, it is aimed at giving the Transportation Department the chance to review in advance transactions financed by large amounts of debt. ``The purpose of the bill is to put the brakes on airline acquisitions that would so load a carrier up with debt that it would impede safety or a carrier's ability to compete,'' Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt, R., Ark. said. The bill, as it was approved by the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, would give the Transportation Department up to 50 days to review any purchase of 15% or more of the stock in an airline. The department would be required to block the buy-out if the acquisition is likely to financially weaken a carrier so that safety would be impaired; its ability to compete would be sharply diminished; it would be put into foreign control; or if the transaction would result in the sale of airline-related assets -- unless selling such assets had an overriding public benefit. The House approved an amendment offered by Rep. Peter DeFazio D., Ore. that would, in addition to the previous criteria, also require the department to block the acquisition of an airline if the added debt incurred were likely to result in a reduction in the number of the carrier's employees, or their wages or benefits. Rep. James Traficant D., Ohio, said the amendment, which passed 271-147, would ``let the American worker know that we consider them occasionally.'' But Rep. Hammerschmidt said that the provision, which he dubbed a ``special interest'' amendment, was likely to make the bill even more controversial. On Tuesday, the House approved a labor-backed amendment that would require the Transportation Department to reject airline acquisitions if the person seeking to purchase a carrier had run two or more airlines previously that have filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Code. The provision, called the ``two-time-losers'' amendment by its supporters, apparently was aimed at preventing Texas Air Corp. Chairman Frank Lorenzo from attempting to take over another airline. TEXT The House passed legislation designed to make it easier for the Transportation Department to block airline leveraged buy-outs . The final vote came after the House rejected Republican efforts to weaken the bill and approved two amendments sought by organized labor . The Bush administration has threatened to veto such a bill because of what it views as an undesirable intrusion into the affairs of industry , but the 300-113 vote suggests that supporters have the potential to override a veto . The broader question is where the Senate stands on the issue . While the Senate Commerce Committee has approved legislation similar to the House bill on airline leveraged buy-outs , the measure has n't yet come to the full floor . Although the legislation would apply to acquisitions involving any major airline , it is aimed at giving the Transportation Department the chance to review in advance transactions financed by large amounts of debt . `` The purpose of the bill is to put the brakes on airline acquisitions that would so load a carrier up with debt that it would impede safety or a carrier 's ability to compete , '' Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt , R. , Ark . said . The bill , as it was approved by the House Public Works and Transportation Committee , would give the Transportation Department up to 50 days to review any purchase of 15 % or more of the stock in an airline . The department would be required to block the buy-out if the acquisition is likely to financially weaken a carrier so that safety would be impaired ; its ability to compete would be sharply diminished ; it would be put into foreign control ; or if the transaction would result in the sale of airline-related assets -- unless selling such assets had an overriding public benefit . The House approved an amendment offered by Rep. Peter DeFazio D. , Ore. that would , in addition to the previous criteria , also require the department to block the acquisition of an airline if the added debt incurred were likely to result in a reduction in the number of the carrier 's employees , or their wages or benefits . Rep. James Traficant D. , Ohio , said the amendment , which passed 271-147 , would `` let the American worker know that we consider them occasionally . '' But Rep. Hammerschmidt said that the provision , which he dubbed a `` special interest '' amendment , was likely to make the bill even more controversial . On Tuesday , the House approved a labor-backed amendment that would require the Transportation Department to reject airline acquisitions if the person seeking to purchase a carrier had run two or more airlines previously that have filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Code . The provision , called the `` two-time-losers '' amendment by its supporters , apparently was aimed at preventing Texas Air Corp. Chairman Frank Lorenzo from attempting to take over another airline . 2~4 8 22~24~26 32~34~36 41~43~45 51~53 57~59 65~67 73~75 81~83 88~90~92 104~106 114 120~122~124~126~128~130~132~134 128~130~132~134 134 140~142~144 150 154~156 162~164 169~171~173 179~181 187~189 196~198~200~202 198 208 214~216~218 222~224~226 230~232 244~246~248 255~257 265~267~269~271~273 269~271~273 277 287~289~291 293~295 305~307~309~311~313~315~317 311~313~315~317 324~326~328~330~332 330~332 340~342 346~348~350~352~354~356~358~360~362~364~366~368~370~372~374~376~378~380~382~384~386~388~390 358~360 366 370 376 382 382~384~386~388~390 396~398~400~402~404~406~408~410~412 419~421 427 435~437~439~441~443~445~447 437 455~457~459 465~467 473~475~477~479~481~483~485~487~489~491 479~481~483~485~487~489~491 489~491 495~497 502~504 516~518 522~524 536~538 544 554 554~556~558~560 572 582~584 592~594 602~604~606~608~610 608~610 618~620 624~626~628~630 635~637 641~643 649~651~653~655~657~659 673~675~677 685~687 693~695~697~699~701 699~701 705~707~709 723~725 729~731~733~735~737~739~741 735~737~739~741 737 747 747~749 747,753 758~760~762~764~766~768 774~776 780 784 794~796~798 804 808 819~821 827~829~831~833~835~837~839~841~843~845~847~849 835 861~863 876 880~882 886~888~890 898~900~902 908~910 914~916 924~926 932~934~936~938 950~952~954 954 958~960~962~964~966~968~970 964~966~968~970 975~977~979~981~983~985~987~989~991~993~995~997 995 995~997 1011~1013~1015 1011~1013~1015~1017~1019~1021 1033~1035 Redacted|2523,2524,2525,2526,2527,2528,2529,2530,2531,2532,2533,2534,2535,2536,2537,2538,2539,2540,2541,2542,2543,2544,2545,2546,2547,2548,2549,2550,2551,2552,2553,2554,2555,2556,2557,2558,2559,2560,2561,2562,2563,2564,2565,2566,2567,2568,2569,2570,2571,2572,2573,2574,2575,2576,2577,2578,2579,2580,2581,2582,2583,2584,2585,2586,2587,2588,2589,2590,2591,2592,2593,2594,2595,2596,2597,2598,2599,2600,2601,2602,2603,2604,2605,2606,2607,2608,2609,2610,2611,2612,2613,2614,2615,2616,2617,2618,2619,2620,2621,2622,2623,2624,2625,2626,2627,2628,2629,2630,2631,2632,2633,2634,2635,2636,2637,2638,2639 2523|MOD:DIST:2|NUC:DIST:4 2524|NUC:DIST:8 2525|MOD:DIST:22|NUC:DIST:24~26 2526|MOD:DIST:32|MOD:DIST:34|NUC:DIST:36 2527|MOD:DIST:41|MOD:DESC:43|NUC:DIST:45 2528|MOD:DIST:51|NUC:DIST:53 2529|MOD:DIST:57|NUC:DIST:59 2530|MOD:DIST:65|NUC:DIST:67 2531|MOD:DIST:73|NUC:DIST:75 2532|MOD:DIST:81|NUC:DIST:83 2533|MOD:DIST:88|MOD:DIST:90|NUC:DIST:92 2534|MOD:DIST:104|NUC:DIST:106 2535|NUC:DIST:114 2536|MOD:DIST:120|MOD:DESC:122|NUC:DIST:124|MOD:DIST:126~128~130~132~134 2537|MOD:DIST:128|NUC:DIST:130|MOD:DIST:132~134 2538|NUC:DIST:134 2539|MOD:DIST:140|MOD:DIST:142|NUC:DIST:144 2540|NUC:DIST:150 2541|MOD:DIST:154|NUC:DIST:156 2542|MOD:DIST:162|NUC:DIST:164 2543|MOD:DIST:169|MOD:DESC:171|NUC:DIST:173 2544|MOD:DIST:179|NUC:DIST:181 2545|MOD:DIST:187|NUC:DIST:189 2546|MOD:DIST:196|NUC:DIST:198~200~202 2547|NUC:DIST:198 2548|NUC:DIST:208 2549|MOD:DIST:214|MOD:DIST:216|NUC:DIST:218 2550|MOD:DIST:222|MOD:DIST:224|NUC:DIST:226 2551|MOD:DIST:230|NUC:DIST:232 2552|MOD:DIST:244|MOD:DESC:246|NUC:DIST:248 2553|MOD:DIST:255|NUC:DIST:257 2554|NUC:DIST:265|MOD:DIST:267~269~271~273 2555|MOD:DIST:269|MOD:DIST:271|NUC:DIST:273 2556|NUC:DIST:277 2557|MOD:DIST:287|NUC:DIST:289~291 2558|MOD:DIST:293|NUC:DIST:295 2559|NUC:DIST:305|MOD:DIST:307~309~311~313~315~317 2560|MOD:DIST:311~313~315|NUC:DIST:317 2561|MOD:DIST:324|NUC:DIST:326|MOD:DESC:328~330~332 2562|MOD:DIST:330|NUC:DIST:332 2563|MOD:DIST:340|NUC:DESC:342 2564|MOD:DIST:346|NUC:DIST:348|MOD:DIST:350~352~354~356~358~360~362~364~366~368~370~372~374~376~378~380~382~384~386~388~390 2565|MOD:DIST:358|NUC:DIST:360 2566|NUC:DIST:366 2567|NUC:DIST:370 2568|NUC:DIST:376 2569|NUC:DIST:382 2570|MOD:DIST:382~384|NUC:DIST:386|MOD:DIST:388~390 2571|MOD:DIST:396|NUC:DIST:398~400~402|MOD:DIST:406~408~410~412 2572|MOD:DIST:419|NUC:DIST:421 2573|NUC:DIST:427 2574|MOD:DIST:435|NUC:DIST:437~439~441~443~445~447 2575|NUC:DIST:437 2576|MOD:DIST:455|NUC:DIST:457~459 2577|MOD:DIST:465|NUC:DIST:467 2578|MOD:DIST:473|NUC:DIST:475|MOD:DIST:477~479~481~483~485~487~489~491 2579|NUC:DIST:479~481|MOD:DIST:483~485|MOD:DIST:487~489~491 2580|MOD:DIST:489|NUC:DIST:491 2581|MOD:DIST:495|NUC:DIST:497 2582|MOD:DIST:502|NUC:DIST:504 2583|MOD:DIST:516|NUC:DIST:518 2584|MOD:DIST:522|NUC:DIST:524 2585|MOD:DIST:536|NUC:DIST:538 2586|NUC:DIST:544 2587|NUC:DIST:554 2588|MOD:DIST:554|NUC:DIST:556|MOD:DIST:558~560 2589|NUC:DIST:572 2590|MOD:DIST:582|NUC:DIST:584 2591|MOD:DIST:592|NUC:DIST:594 2592|MOD:DIST:602|NUC:DIST:604|MOD:DIST:606~608~610 2593|MOD:DIST:608|NUC:DIST:610 2594|MOD:DIST:618|NUC:DIST:620 2595|MOD:DIST:624|MOD:DIST:626|MOD:DIST:628|NUC:DIST:630 2596|MOD:DIST:635|NUC:DIST:637 2597|MOD:DIST:641|NUC:DIST:643 2598|MOD:DIST:649|NUC:DIST:651~653|MOD:DIST:655~657~659 2599|MOD:DIST:673|MOD:DIST:675|NUC:DIST:677 2600|MOD:DIST:685|NUC:DIST:687 2601|MOD:DIST:693|NUC:DIST:695|MOD:DIST:697~699~701 2602|MOD:DIST:699|NUC:DIST:701 2603|MOD:DIST:705|MOD:DESC:707|NUC:DIST:709 2604|MOD:DIST:723|NUC:DIST:725 2605|MOD:DIST:729|NUC:DIST:731|MOD:DIST:733~735~737~739~741 2606|MOD:DIST:735|MOD:DIST:737~739|NUC:DIST:741 2607|NUC:DIST:737 2608|NUC:DIST:747 2609|MOD:DIST:747|NUC:DIST:749 2610|MOD:DIST:747|NUC:DIST:753 2611|MOD:DIST:758|NUC:DIST:760~762|MOD:DIST:764~766~768 2612|MOD:DIST:774|NUC:DIST:776 2613|NUC:DIST:780 2614|NUC:DIST:784 2615|MOD:DIST:794|MOD:DIST:796|NUC:DIST:798 2616|NUC:DIST:804 2617|NUC:DIST:808 2618|MOD:DIST:819|NUC:DIST:821 2619|MOD:DIST:827|NUC:DIST:829|MOD:DESC:833~835~837~839~841~843~845~847~849 2620|NUC:DIST:835 2621|MOD:DIST:861|NUC:DIST:863 2622|NUC:DIST:876 2623|MOD:DIST:880|NUC:DIST:882 2624|MOD:DIST:886|MOD:DESC:888|NUC:DIST:890 2625|MOD:DIST:898|NUC:DIST:900~902 2626|MOD:DIST:908|NUC:DIST:910 2627|MOD:DIST:914|NUC:DIST:916 2628|MOD:DIST:924|NUC:DIST:926 2629|MOD:DIST:932~934~936|NUC:DIST:938 2630|NUC:DIST:950|MOD:DIST:952~954 2631|NUC:DIST:954 2632|NUC:DIST:958~960|MOD:DESC:962~964~966~968~970 2633|MOD:DIST:964|MOD:DESC:966|NUC:DIST:968~970 2634|MOD:DIST:975|NUC:DESC:977|MOD:DESC:981~983~985~987~989~991~993~995~997 2635|NUC:DIST:995 2636|MOD:DIST:995|NUC:DIST:997 2637|NUC:DIST:1011~1013~1015 2638|MOD:DIST:1011~1013~1015~1017|NUC:DIST:1019~1021 2639|MOD:DIST:1033|NUC:DIST:1035