[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 58 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 1559, EMERGENCY WAR-TIME 
                         SUPPLEMENTAL ACT, 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2003

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong 
support of the Obey motion to instruct Conferees.
  Eighteen months ago terrorists used American aircraft to attack this 
Nation. As a consequence of those attacks, this Congress decided that 
aviation security should be paid for by the Federal Government because 
aviation security is national security.
  Now is the time for us to re-enforce that commitment by reimbursing 
the airlines for security fees that they have already paid and by 
providing unemployment aid to hundreds of thousands of the industry's 
workers nationwide.
  Aid to the Airlines in this Supplemental is necessary to stem the 
tremendous costs of September 11th that are continuing to be imposed on 
the airlines and their hard-working employees, and the even greater 
costs and revenue losses that are likely as the war with Iraq 
continues.
  No other industry since 9/11 has taken on special ``security'' fees 
as the airline industry has.
  With forecasts of 70,000 layoffs occurring due to the war in Iraq, 
and the likelihood of further airline bankruptcies, it is crucial that 
we address this emerging crisis in which airline workers have suffered 
unprecedented job loss and economic uncertainty. Without a strong and 
vibrant airline network, we will not be able to rebuild this nation so 
that the men and women in our military who left their jobs in the 
airline industry have jobs to come home to.
  To not include funding for the airlines in this bill will do nothing 
but assure massive layoffs and furloughs.
  The airlines lost $5 billion in the first Gulf War, and they will 
likely lose at least $10 to $12 billion in this current war.
  National security is the responsibility of the entire nation, and as 
we engage in what will be a lengthy war with Iraq, disproportionate 
costs should not be imposed on an industry that happened to be the 
means of a terrorist attack.
  I urge my colleagues to address the ongoing plight of the aviation 
industry during this time of war by supporting this motion to instruct.

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