Senate Republicans Unveil Airlines Relief Bill

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Legislation that would provide nearly $30 billion for airlines, including cargo air carriers, to address concerns related to the pandemic was recently unveiled by top Senate Republicans.

The Air Carrier Worker Support Extension Act also would extend the airline worker payroll support program through March. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Commerce Committee, said on Sept. 21: “Maintaining a strong national air transportation system is critical for today’s economy and the continued recovery.”

“Our legislation to extend this lifeline would help frontline employees to continue to receive a paycheck and require airlines to maintain flights to every community they serve,” added Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairwoman of the transportation appropriations subcommittee. “I am committed to ensuring that all facets of our transportation network, including buses, motorcoaches, passenger ferries and public transportation, have the resources they need to survive the current economic crisis.”

Collins

Executives from the airlines are among myriad transportation stakeholders pressing Congress for additional economic aid.

This month, senators blocked efforts to advance a pandemic relief package that was smaller than the $1 trillion aid measure the Senate’s GOP leadership unveiled over the summer. In May, the House, led by Democrats, passed a $3 trillion economic package that includes $15 billion for highway programs.

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