[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1787-E1788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 2946, THE DISPLACED WORKERS RELIEF ACT OF 2001 AND 
            H.R. 2955, THE DISPLACED WORKERS ASSISTANCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 3, 2001

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
immediate relief for the tens of thousands of workers who have lost 
their jobs as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Since 
September 11th more than 100,000 airline employees have lost their 
jobs. Many thousands more workers in industries directly and indirectly 
affected by the disruption of the airline industry also have been laid 
off.
  Small businesses also have been hit very hard by the September 11th 
attacks. Many of them lost key customers who constituted the lion's 
share of their business, as well as key suppliers who enabled them to 
do business.
  The September 11th attacks have radically altered business prospects 
throughout our country. No community has been spared. While even places 
thousands of miles from the destruction of September 11th have been 
severely affected, tourist dependent communities that rely upon the 
airlines and the hotel industry, like my home town of Miami, have been 
particularly hard hit.

[[Page E1788]]

  Unfortunately, it seems clear that we have not yet hit bottom. Many 
more hard working Americans, through no fault of their own, soon will 
lose their jobs. Mr. Speaker, all of these workers desperately need our 
help and they need it now.
  Mr. Speaker, the human costs of this economic downturn for many of 
our fellow Americans are truly staggering. Airline and airport workers, 
transit workers, employees who work for airline suppliers such as 
service employees and plane manufacturers, all face common problems and 
challenges. Their mortgages, rents, and utilities still must be paid. 
Food must be placed on the table. Children must be clothed. Health care 
costs must be covered.
  While some will get by by depleting their savings, the vast majority 
of those who have lost their jobs have little or no savings to deplete. 
All of these workers need a strong, flexible and lasting safety net, 
the kind that only the Federal government can provide.
  With no income coming in and little prospect for prompt re-employment 
within their chosen field, these displaced workers must search for new 
jobs while few firms are even hiring. While some will find new 
positions quickly, many, if not most, will not. Some of this 
unemployment will be structural as some of these industries will be 
downsizing permanently. As a result, many workers will have to retrain 
in a new field or receive additional training in their chosen field 
simply to get re-employed.
  So what is it that these workers need? Just like those workers who 
qualify for help under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, workers 
who lost their jobs because of the September 11th attacks need extended 
unemployment and job training benefits (78 weeks instead of 26 weeks). 
Those workers who would not otherwise qualify for unemployment benefits 
need the 26 weeks of benefits that H.R. 2946 would provide.
  They especially need COBRA continuation coverage, that is, they need 
to have their COBRA health insurance premiums paid for in full for up 
to 78 weeks, or until they are re-employed with health insurance 
coverage, whichever is earlier. Those without COBRA coverage need 
coverage under Medicaid.
  Mr. Speaker, this Congress acted quickly and responsibly to meet the 
challenges posed by the September 11th attacks. We acted as one to pass 
the Joint Resolution authorizing the use of United States Armed Forces 
against those responsible for the attacks against the United States. We 
heeded the call of all Americans and said: Never again.
  We stood shoulder to shoulder with President Bush, our Commander in 
Chief, firmly united in our resolve to identify and punish all nations, 
organizations and persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided 
the September 11th terrorist attacks, or harbored such organizations or 
persons. We unanimously passed the $40 billion Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations bill to finance some of the tremendous costs of fighting 
terrorism and of helping and rebuilding the communities devastated by 
these horrendous attacks. We provided cash assistance and loan 
guarantees to the airline industry.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, we must demonstrate the same resolve, the same 
commitment on behalf of our workers. Deeds, not just words, are 
required. All of these hard working, innocent displaced airline workers 
and their families desperately need our help. We must hear and answer 
their pleas. They need our help and need it now. We cannot rest until 
we have met their needs. I urge all of my colleagues to join with me to 
support H.R. 2946 and H.R. 2955.

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