[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 125 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1712]]


 STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN ALCEE L. HASTINGS INTRODUCING THE DISPLACED 
                       WORKERS RELIEF ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2001

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I received a call 
from George Mador. Mr. Mador is the President of L & M Aircraft 
Services and he called my office looking for help. L & M is a small 
aircraft maintenance company that services charter airlines 
transporting passengers to and from the Bahamas. L & M only has seven 
employees and many of them have been with the company for a majority of 
the company's existence.
  However, in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, L & M 
is now facing imminent bankruptcy and its seven employees, therefore, 
are facing certain unemployment. George told me that he did not want to 
get out of bed this morning because of the reality that he will have to 
lay off at least half of his staff by the end of the week as a result 
of zero income in the past two weeks. Last week's payroll left George 
and some of his employees without a paycheck and L & M $500 in the 
hole. With no apparent income coming in this week, the future of L & M 
Airport Services and its seven employees are undoubtedly in jeopardy.
  At the three international airports serving my district, Ft. 
Lauderdale/Hollywood, Palm Beach, and Miami, there are more than 300 
small businesses just like L & M that are now on the verge of 
bankruptcy as a result of loss of income. In Miami-Dade County, the 
airline and aviation industry is the County's primary economic engine, 
representing more than nine percent of the County's total workforce. 
Thousands of employees have already or will lose their jobs, and 
hundreds of business will go under nationwide if Congress does not act 
today.
  To help remedy some of the future hardships sure to be faced by 
hundreds of thousands of people in the coming days, weeks, and months, 
I am proud to introduce the Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001. My 
bill serves as the companion bill to S. 1454, which was introduced in 
the Senate by Senator Jean Carnahan of Missouri. It provides those who 
have lost their jobs in the wake of the attacks of September 11 with 
the ability to pay rent, put food on their table, buy school books for 
their children, while trying to live their lives even in these 
difficult times.
  My bill extends unemployment benefits from 26 to 78 weeks, provides 
26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who would not 
otherwise qualify, extends Job Training Benefits from 52 to 78 weeks, 
and provides up to 78 weeks of federally subsidized COBRA premiums; and 
provides optional temporary Medicaid coverage for up to eighteen months 
to those workers without COBRA coverage.
  Under the Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001, all airline and 
airport workers, including transit workers, as well as employees who 
work for airline suppliers, such as service employees and plane 
manufacturers, will all be eligible to receive these needed benefits.
  In the past two weeks, more than 100,000 airline employees have been 
laid off, and airline analysts suggest that as many as 250,000 
additional layoffs in airline-related industries may shortly follow. 
Everywhere I look in this country, industries and business are hurting. 
Hotels are reporting record lows in occupancy levels; travel agencies 
are losing customers by the dozen; the cruise industry has come to a 
virtual standstill; and service industries dependent upon airlines are 
closing their doors as we speak. As these businesses suffer, Mr. 
Speaker, so do their employees, many of whom no longer have jobs.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, last Friday evening, Congress missed a golden 
opportunity to assist American workers affected by this tragedy. Now, 
it is time for this body to recognize the responsibility it has to 
these hard working Americans and provide them with relief. The 
Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001 is the vehicle which Congress can 
use to help these workers at a time that they need it most. For if we 
fail to act today, then we are neglecting the responsibility that we 
have to serve the very same people who put us here to represent them. 
It is essential that Congress move swiftly and pass this legislation 
immediately.

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