Yesterday, the House Transportation Committee moved a modest airline passenger rights proposal as part of its FAA reauthorization bill, HR 2881. With passenger rights bills now going to the floor in both the House and the Senate, we have a chance to actually pass a law this year. Here's a cautious but optimistic statement from House champion Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Kate Hanni, spokeswoman for the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights. Both bills need to be upgraded to guarantee enforceable rights and to make it clear that after three hours of being stuck on a plane stuck on the runway, you have a right to get off. But this is the closest to takeoff we've ever been.