The law is clear: foreigners cannot own more than 25% of U.S. airlines or have “actual control.” Unable to overturn this law in Congress, the Bush Administration is trying to subvert it by a new regulation saying the prohibition on “actual control” doesn’t include things like cities served, schedules, fares and type of aircraft.

If he succeeds, tens of thousands of good, union airline jobs would fall under the control of foreign corporations who could replace them with low-wage foreign workers. From a national security perspective, it would also pave the way for countries like China and Saudi Arabia to gain control of large portions of the US airways with the potential that implies for both economic and terrorist threats.

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House (HR 4542) and Senate (S 2135) that would call a halt to this mindless pandering to corporate interests and allow Congress to assert its jurisdiction over the legislative process.

Call or email your Congressman and Senators today and ask them to stand up for American jobs and homeland security.