[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 136 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10645-S10646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLEN (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Lott, Mr. Nickles, Mr. 
        Gregg, Mr. Bond, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. 
        Brownback, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Campbell, Mrs. 
        Hutchison, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Craig, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Santorum, 
        and Mr. Allard):
  S. 1532. A bill to provide for the payment of emergency extended 
unemployment compensation; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the President's 
Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act.
  The Senator from California was talking about her concerns, help on 
the way. I think we all share those concerns. While the actions of 
Americans have shown that we are trying to get open for business again, 
we are obviously united in our resolve that a long fight awaits us 
because of these vile terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.
  This flag is from the Pentagon. The President just gave a wonderful 
speech, as did Secretary Rumsfeld. Everyone was united in tears and in 
love for those families who lost loved ones and, also, a resolve that 
freedom and justice will prevail.
  Indeed, we are working to rebuild and recover. The President talked 
about rebuilding the Pentagon. Others have talked about rebuilding in 
New York. The rescue, recovery, cleanup, and rebuilding efforts will be 
enormous.
  Congress has responded with $40 billion in aid. The airline industry, 
which is responsible for 10 percent of the Nation's gross domestic 
product, as well as being a key element of our reserve military airlift 
fleet, needs to remain solvent. We recognize that.
  We understood that the FAA closed our skies after the terrorist 
attacks. We have responded with $5 billion in cash for lost revenue, 
due to the skies being closed, to help get our airlines back in the sky 
as quickly as possible.
  The perception of safety while flying has been shaken to the core. I 
have participated in hearings in the Commerce Committee working to help 
craft legislation aimed at improving aviation safety both on the ground 
at airports, and on our aircraft as well. Senators Hollings, McCain, 
Rockefeller, and Hutchison have worked hard in bringing this bill to 
the floor to do just that. We will pass this legislation to ensure that 
no commercial airliner or any aircraft in this country ever again is 
commandeered and used as a weapon.
  Ronald Reagan National Airport, which is a symbol of the Nation's 
Capital and our transportation system, remained closed for nearly 3 
weeks due to Federal order. After nearly 3 weeks of consideration of 
ideas for safety and special precautions for Reagan National Airport, 
last week President Bush very wisely announced a plan with a phased-in 
approach so that flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport could start. 
I was fortunate to be on the first flight out of Reagan since that 
fateful day last Thursday.
  For the first 3 weeks of the reopening of Reagan National Airport, it 
is restricted to operating at 24-percent capacity. After that, in phase 
2, it will be at 57-percent capacity for as long as 7 weeks. We still 
have a lot of work to do. While our general aviation pilots are 
fortunately back in the skies, there are still limitations on airspace 
all around the country.
  Airline carriers and manufacturers have laid off over 100,000 
employees. Airport employees and workers for businesses located in and 
around airport facilities are losing jobs by the thousands. Reagan 
National Airport is again open for business, but many of its 10,200 
employees are out of work since they are restricted to operating at 
one-quarter capacity. Vendors, business owners, and concessionaires at 
the airport have lost revenues and jobs because of this direct Federal 
action. The shock waves are being felt throughout our economy--from 
retail establishments to high-tech businesses.
  Now that we have addressed some of the recovery and rebuilding 
efforts, we are finally able to turn our attention to these hard-
working Americans who unfortunately have lost their jobs through no 
fault of their own. Today, on behalf of the President, I am introducing 
legislation to provide that necessary assistance for the backbone of 
our economy--the free people of the greatest and strongest nation on 
Earth.
  The President's plan will provide health coverage, unemployment 
benefits, and job training assistance to hard-working Americans who 
have lost their jobs as a result of the economic downturn since the 
September 11 attacks.
  Specifically, it will extend unemployment benefits for up to 13 weeks 
beyond what individual States cover. It will provide COBRA health 
insurance premiums, which are substantially covered by the Federal 
Government, for up to 10 months.
  It will also more easily allow affected workers to avail themselves 
of more than $6 billion in Federal programs that provide job search, 
training, placement, and other services.

[[Page S10646]]

  It makes $11 billion available to States to help low-income workers 
and families who have lost their jobs to maintain health insurance 
through either the S-CHIP or Medicaid Programs.
  It will also provide $3 billion to States in the form of national 
emergency grants that Governors can fashion to best address the needs 
of their States to help workers maintain health care coverage, 
supplement their income, and receive job training. Also, the Governors 
can use it to compensate employees who have lost their jobs due to this 
direct Federal intervention.
  In addition, the White House, my office, and the Republican Senate 
leadership offices, have been working through the night addressing some 
of the specific concerns I have for Reagan National Airport. That is 
why I will add an amendment to the President's package to address those 
specific concerns, because although actions such as the Reagan National 
shutdown are sometimes necessary for national security reasons, those 
actions that will directly impact the ability of hard-working Americans 
and business owners to make a living. We should respond in realization 
that limited Federal benefits are little comfort to those thrown out of 
work due to a Federal action.

  That is why my supplemental amendment will also allow the Governors 
of the States where major disasters have been declared to use their 
national emergency grants to supplement the incomes of those unemployed 
or underemployed because of direct Federal action, or for the lost 
revenues of those businesses that were similarly affected. These are 
not mandated, direct Federal grants but allowable uses under the 
national emergency grant programs at the discretion of Governors.
  Again, it makes sense. If the Federal Government has an action that 
harms someone, whether it is their property or their livelihood, the 
Federal Government ought to help them. It is indeed the same logic we 
used in helping the airline industry.
  The White House, of course, has seen the need to act. They understand 
that direct Federal action is necessary. Unfortunately, it was 
necessary to keep Reagan National closed for a while. The leadership at 
the White House and the Senate Republicans have been very helpful in 
analyzing this supplemental amendment, and I believe we can make it 
work out in the end.
  Most of all, I know all Americans have significant concerns about 
jobs--jobs for people in all of our States. These job losses are not 
unique to New York, or Virginia, where those terrorist attacks have the 
greatest impact; the job losses are felt in every corner of our 
country. We see smaller airports worrying about whether or not they are 
going to have service.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce this measure today for this 
needed aid to help our hard-working citizens all over America recover 
from the extended effects of this horrific disaster. In times like 
this, I believe the entire Nation has a role to play in keeping 
American businesses and entrepreneurs running, and especially in 
keeping Americans at work.
  Once again, I believe America will triumph over tyrants and we will 
stand strong with our people; unwavering in the face of terrorism. We 
will show that not only is America open for business but also that 
America means business.
                                 ______