[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 055 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EMERGENCY WARTIME SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1559) making 
     emergency wartime supplemental appropriations for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2003, and for other purposes;

  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill, 
specifically the provision that would provide $3.2 billion in 
assistance to the Nation's airline industry. This funding is critical 
to the health of the industry as our Nation is at war. U.S. Airways, in 
particular, has a strong presence in Pennsylvania with major hubs in 
both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Since September 11, 2001, 
approximately 3,000 U.S. Airways employees have lost their jobs in the 
Pittsburgh region.
  U.S. Airways, along with other major carriers, is seeking several 
remedies to deal with the current crisis within the airline industry. 
Among the proposed solutions are a repeal of the passenger security tax 
and the air carrier security fee, proposed takeover by TSA of all 
screening of passengers and property as provided for in the Aviation 
and Transportation Security Act, permanent extension of the Aviation 
Insurance program, and suspension of Aviation Trust Fund taxes. These 
are all important issues that this Congress should address.
  Mr. Chairman, the health of U.S. Airways is critical to many more 
jobs in my district and the stability of the economy in the Pittsburgh 
region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I urge my colleagues to 
support this provision and by doing so help insure the viability of the 
airline industry and save many more jobs that may be lost through no 
fault of the workers that keep us flying.

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