[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17614-17624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2926, AIR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND 
                        SYSTEM STABILIZATION ACT

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 244 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 244

       Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it 
     shall be in order without intervention of any point of order 
     to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 2926) to preserve the 
     continued viability of the United States air transportation 
     system. The bill shall be considered as read for amendment. 
     The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the 
     bill to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) 
     one hour of debate on the bill equally divided and controlled 
     by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure; and (2) one motion to 
     recommit.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), 
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose 
of debate only.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 244 is a closed rule that provides for 
the consideration of H.R. 2926, the Air Transportation Safety and 
System Stabilization Act. This rule and its underlying legislation 
address the impending needs of the airline industry after last week's 
tragic attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
  The rule provides for 1 hour of debate to be equally divided between 
the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, since the morning of September 11, 2001, when, as 
President Bush said last night, enemies of freedom committed an act of 
war against our country, our Nation has been through extraordinary and 
trying times. Over the past week and a half, we have heard countless 
stories of personal tragedy and selfless heroism. We have seen a Nation 
come together in a steely resolve to see justice served. And we have 
felt here in this Congress an unprecedented unity, rooted not just in 
bipartisanship but nonpartisanship, in citizenship. And we have much 
work to do.
  As President Bush said, ``We face new and sudden national 
challenges,'' because this war has many fronts. It was heartening for 
me to see my State's great Governor, George Pataki, and New York's 
outstanding Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, here in these Chambers last night. I 
have long valued their friendship. But as a New Yorker, today I value 
even more their leadership. Each as shown a steady hand and quiet 
courage through which so many have drawn strength. Equally important, 
their attendance served as a reminder that we still have work to do to 
recover, rebuild and strengthen a city and a Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, the ripple effect of last week's events has been felt 
all over the world. In the blink of an eye, the way of life that we 
have taken for granted for so long has been changed forever. Despite a 
national state of shock, thousands of our fellow citizens immediately 
went to work to ensure the safety and security of American citizens.
  Within a matter of hours on the day of the attacks, the Federal 
Aviation Administration carefully orchestrated the safe grounding of 
every single airplane flying within the United States. This quick 
response and cooperation from the entire airline industry ensured the 
safety and well-being of countless individuals. But in the wake of the 
cowardly attacks on our Nation, scheduling cutbacks and subsequent 
reductions in the number of flights have hit the industry hard. Already 
there have been over 80,000 airline-related layoffs, with even more 
expected in the days and weeks to come.
  We must remember that this is not just an industry giant that is 
suffering. This is a critical component to our way of life and a vital 
segment of our national economy. Our airlines move people and products 
across America and

[[Page 17615]]

throughout the world. They serve not just business and tourism but can, 
quite literally, determine whether we are able to compete in a global 
economy.
  In my own community, which had already been lagging the national 
economy, competitive air travel is continually cited as a primary 
component to economic growth. By coming to the aid of the airline 
industry, we will make America stronger. And in making America 
stronger, we will repair and reinforce the fabric of our Nation which 
was torn by cowards in last week's criminal act of war.
  That is why we have a responsibility to help rebuild an industry that 
has helped keep America strong.
  Specifically, the legislation before us authorizes the President to 
provide $10 billion in loan guarantees and an additional $5 billion in 
immediate direct aid. This money will help stabilize an industry that 
is desperately in need of urgent relief.
  Additionally, the legislation contains language limiting the 
liability for any damages arising out of the hijacking and subsequent 
crashes of American Airlines Flights 11 or 77 and United Airline 
Flights 93 or 175.
  As President Bush stated in his address to the Nation last night, 
``We will come together to promote stability and keep our airlines 
flying with direct assistance during this emergency.''
  America faces a daunting struggle in the times ahead. We must stand 
united as a Nation. We must restore and strengthen our infrastructure 
so that Americans feel safe and confident again in utilizing the best 
transportation system in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to commend the chairman of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the ranking member the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Oberstar) for their tireless devotion and hard work on this 
important measure. I would also like to commend the Speaker and the 
majority leader and the minority leader for their leadership in 
crafting this legislation along with the other body and with the 
administration.
  I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Last night, Mr. Speaker, we were all impressed by the President's 
resolve. Today, this Congress continues the work of helping America 
recover and rebuild from last week's cowardly, barbaric attack.
  On September 11, terrorists murdered thousands of innocent people. 
They also struck directly at the fabric of America's economy, seeking 
to cripple our air transportation system. Make no mistake, there is 
strong bipartisan support for stabilizing America's air transportation 
system and for ensuring the victims of September 11 get the assistance 
they need as they rebuild their lives. How to do those things is a 
difficult and complex question, but a crucially important one. At stake 
is nothing less than the strength of the economy, hundreds of thousands 
of American jobs, and our values and way of life.
  So Democrats and Republicans have been working overtime to craft a 
bipartisan emergency package. All of those who have spent the last week 
hashing out this bill, especially Leader Gephardt, Speaker Hastert, and 
Ranking Member Oberstar, deserve enormous credit.
  Mr. Speaker, since the Federal Government grounded air traffic last 
week, the airline industry has been losing billions of dollars. As a 
result, hundreds of thousands of Americans, employees of the airlines, 
as well as the service and manufacturing industries around them, have 
seen their livelihoods threatened. In the aftermath of last week's 
attack, fewer people are flying, further hurting the industry. Make no 
mistake, it is critical that we ensure the security of air travel so 
people are not afraid to fly. And until the government ensures just 
compensation for the victims of September 11, the airlines will not be 
able to buy the insurance or borrow the capital they need to keep 
operating.
  Mr. Speaker, the airlines have already announced some 80,000 layoffs. 
Each airline job affects numerous additional jobs in other related 
industries. Make no mistake, the airlines are part of the foundation of 
our economy, affecting industries from travel and tourism to 
manufacturing and electronics.
  In North Texas, the area that I represent, thousands of hardworking 
Americans make their living and support their families at companies 
like American Airlines, Boeing and Vought Industries.

                              {time}  1930

  I have talked to them and I believe this reasonable package will help 
them and people like them around the country.
  This package provides $5 billion to the airlines immediately to make 
up for the revenue they have lost this month as a result of Tuesday's 
terrorist attack and the government's order grounding their planes. It 
provides $10 billion in loan guarantees for airlines that face fewer 
customers, higher insurance premiums, and rising security costs in the 
wake of September 11 and requires independent oversight to ensure the 
government will not be bailing out past management mistakes. Finally, 
it establishes the Federal Government as the insurer of last resort 
against terrorist attacks and sets up a victim compensation fund.
  Make no mistake, it is not a perfect bill. A lot of Democrats, myself 
included, believe the Federal Government should guarantee the safety of 
air travel by taking over security and ensuring security staff are 
professionally trained and paid.
  Additionally, Democrats believe we should do more to help the 
hundreds of thousands of airline workers whose jobs are on the line. We 
thought we had a bipartisan agreement to significantly expand 
unemployment insurance and health coverage for those who lose their 
jobs; but unfortunately, that was lost at some point late last night. 
So we will keep working to get that done.
  I am pleased that the Speaker has made a commitment to allow us next 
week to try to help the people who are losing their jobs. I look 
forward to working on it with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
  So this bill does not do everything I think it should, Mr. Speaker, 
but it is a reasonable response under the circumstances; and it should 
help stabilize an industry uniquely devastated by terrorists while also 
ensuring the victims of September 11 will receive the compensation they 
and their families need. It protects thousands of Americans' jobs and 
provides thousands of Americans with justice.
  For all those reasons, I urge the adoption of this rule and the 
passage of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad).
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Reynolds) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and the underlying 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, today was another sad day in Minnesota. Today, 
Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines, the largest employer in my 
congressional district, was forced to eliminate 4,500 jobs. That means 
layoffs for more than 20 percent of Northwest's 23,000 employees in 
Minnesota. System-wide, these job cuts affect 10,600 Northwest workers. 
Before last week's terrorist attacks, Northwest employed 53,000 people.
  Because the Federal Government had no choice but to shut down the 
skies last week as an act of national defense, all the carriers I 
believe deserve compensation. We simply cannot let the airlines fail.
  In the strongest terms possible, I support the legislation before us, 
providing a $15 billion plan to bolster this struggling airline 
industry. It is clearly the right thing to do, and we need to do it 
now.

[[Page 17616]]

  Mr. Speaker, America needs this airline assistance package which 
includes $5 billion in direct aid and $10 billion in loan guarantees so 
the imperiled airlines can continue flying and avoid bankruptcy. Every 
1,000 layoffs by Northwest Airlines in Minnesota will result in a $30 
million payroll cut. So failure by Congress to pass this critical 
relief package for the airlines would be absolutely devastating to our 
economy as well as our airline employees and their families and 
hundreds of thousands of airline passengers nationally.
  Mr. Speaker, without this immediate financial support from the 
Federal Government, the future of aviation in America would be severely 
threatened. Let us pass this important legislation today without 
further delay.
  I deeply appreciate the leadership on this package by the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), my friend and colleague, as well as the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young); and I urge all Members to support 
this very critical rule and legislation. The employees of Northwest 
Airlines and the people of Minnesota are both grateful for your 
bipartisan support.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Hastings), a member of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Frost), the distinguished ranking member, my friend, for 
yielding me this time; and I rise to oppose the rule.
  I consider the airline industry to be the linchpin of our way of life 
in America. It is the fuel that provides the engine for our economy 
here and worldwide. A safe, secure, stable industry is all of our 
objectives as policymakers.
  On Tuesday, airlines were grounded as a matter of defense. On 
Wednesday, workers living from paycheck to paycheck were driven into 
the ground. We have a responsibility in a bipartisan manner to protect 
airplanes and to protect people.
  I can assure my colleagues that all of us know that in the past week 
nearly 100,000 airline employees have been laid off as a result of the 
terrorist attacks. In the coming days, weeks, and months it is almost 
certain that the number of layoffs in the airline industry, as well as 
the industries directly and indirectly affected by airline travel, will 
drastically increase by thousands.
  Analysts point out that the airline industry has a high multiplier 
effect. For every 100 jobs created by the airline industry, an 
additional 250 jobs are created by those industries who service the 
airline. In turn, as many as 250,000 workers may be on the brink of 
losing their jobs as a result of the layoffs of just the past week.
  The human dimension means domestic violence will increase. It means 
that crime will increase. It means that child abuse will increase. I 
suffer, as does every Member of this House, with every victim; and we 
should restore them. I, for one, believe we should rebuild the World 
Trade Center; and I think we have some responsibility to build the 
Pentagon immediately. And we should open National Airport.
  The Air Transportation System Stabilization Act, as introduced, does 
very little to provide relief to the workers who already have been or 
shortly will be displaced as a result of the terrorist attacks. The 
amendment that I offered in the Committee on Rules today would have 
provided needed relief to these hardworking Americans while at the same 
time helping to stimulate our economy.
  What I want to know from the Members is why are we going home when we 
have the responsibility not only to the airline but we have a 
responsibility to extend unemployment benefits for those who work for 
the airline?
  Why are we going home, when we could stay here tomorrow, Sunday, and 
Monday and extend job training benefits for people we know will lose 
their job, or provide more weeks of federally subsidized consolidated 
omnibus budget reconciliation premiums, and provide optional temporary 
Medicaid coverage for those workers without COBRA?
  I think we should defeat this rule. We should protect the airline 
industry and the workers. We should do it all and do it now.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Shaw.)
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I must say that I agree very much with what my friend 
and colleague the gentleman from Florida just said, except his 
conclusion is wrong. We must first save the airlines. That is what is 
of utmost importance.
  I listened to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) speaking on his 
concern about some of the obscene salaries that are continued to be 
paid while these airlines continue to hemorrhage red ink. I think the 
people who are considering the loans that we are being asked to 
guarantee should look very carefully at top executive salaries and see 
that these salaries should be based upon performance, and performance 
should be based upon, in part at least, the bottom line. When these 
airlines are continuing to lose money, the salaries at the top should 
not be in the figures that they are today. But this is for the loan 
people to figure out, and I hope that they do so.
  But thinking of this country, a collapse of the airline industry all 
across this country would be devastating. You talk about lost jobs? 
Talking to some of the executives in my own district about what is 
happening to the car rental agencies, what is happening to the hotels, 
what is happening to the theme parks, what is happening to the 
restaurants, and all of the people who work in those businesses, it is 
absolutely time that we pass this rule and that we pass this bill.
  It may only be the first step, but it is so important that we act 
tonight, and that we send this message to Wall Street, that the 
American United States Congress is behind the American airline 
industry, that we understand the problem, and that we are not going to 
let the airlines fail, we are not going to let our economy fail. 
Tonight we must pass this rule, we must pass this bill, and we must 
move on.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on Rules and the 
ranking member as well. I thank the Speaker, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hastert) and our leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Gephardt).
  Last evening, the President told America that the hour is coming. He 
indicated to us as a unified Nation that we would not tire or falter or 
fail. In that spirit, last week I voted aye for America's response. I 
voted aye for the $40 billion to respond to the horrific tragedy.
  Today I am equally concerned about avoiding bankrupt airlines and 
losing thousands of jobs. I am concerned. Let me say to Linda, who 
wrote me from my district, along with hundreds of other letters, that I 
am aware that Continental Airlines has single mothers supporting 
families and they have invested the last several years to Continental. 
It would be difficult, as she said, for them to find jobs.
  I am equally aware that Captain Kevin B. Lawson may be willingly 
misinterpreting my position. He needs to pay attention to his Air 
Pilots Association who want comprehensive legislation. We are concerned 
about airlines and the airline industry, but we are equally concerned 
about people and jobs.
  Therefore, I would have hoped that this Congress could have looked to 
solve the problem of jobs. I supported the Hastings amendment, which 
extended unemployment benefits, provided unemployment insurance 
benefits, extended job training, and provided COBRA extensions for 
health care. Who of the hundreds of persons that have written me from 
the airline would be against that?
  I also support helping the airport concessionaires. They are in 
desperate need. I want an SBA disaster declaration to help them. And I 
want to federalize the security of airlines, so Americans can get back 
on the airlines quickly and start flying, going to Hawaii and Las Vegas 
and taking their

[[Page 17617]]

children back to college and enjoying life again.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we can do more and reach to higher angels. I 
believe it is important to have a comprehensive package, and that is 
why I have raised my voice to fight for those who cannot fight for 
themselves.
  I want to support the airline industry and those employees, too! I 
want to keep the millions of existing jobs. But, do you know what, Mr. 
Speaker? When I walk through the airports, I talk to the skycaps, I 
talk to the cleaning people. Those are the ones that pat Congresswoman 
Sheila Jackson-Lee on the back, and ask for help, not a hand-out.
  I promised them I would work on their behalf, and I want a commitment 
from this Congress today that we are not going to leave here today 
without providing assistance for these people who are also affected, 
hotel workers, skycaps, cleaning people, contract people, people who 
are also innocent of the events of September 11, 2001.
  I believe that we have to work with this rule and work with this 
legislation. But my heart is broken. Why? Because we could have done 
this in a more comprehensive manner. What do I say to the skycaps of 20 
and 30 years that get $2 an hour? We can do better. The hour is coming. 
We can vote aye on a plan that will help everyone, if not today--we 
must do this in the coming days.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), who has spent countless hours in committee 
hearings on this very subject.
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time, 
and I thank the ranking member for conducting this debate in a very 
professional and proper way.
  Mr. Speaker, I have sat through every minute of hearings on airline 
financial stability and on security. I have been there for every 
minute. Members have raised relevant points, some more relevant than 
others, but here tonight we are faced with doing something that is 
crucial to our economy and to the airlines, which are a building log of 
that economy.
  Last Friday night, it was brought to our attention by the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) 
that the markets would open on Monday and we needed to send a strong 
message to Wall Street and the financial community that we would be 
there for this important part of our commerce.
  That did not happen. We spent a week talking about very important 
things. Let me assure my colleagues, many of whom I have spoken to 
individually, and thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Frost) for their wonderful cooperation; but here we are a week later. 
We could have been doing the things that people are raising now.

                              {time}  1945

  Please put this discussion aside. Take this building block, put it in 
place, then we will address in time, as everyone has promised and 
everyone unanimously wants to do, the other issues, some of which are 
discovered, many of which are yet to be discovered. Let us pass this 
rule and this bill.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Lampson).
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman for yielding me 
the time.
  Mr. Speaker, these are unique and extraordinary times. Some of the 
steps that we take are not perfect. This is not a perfect piece of 
legislation. If the events of last Tuesday are any indication, this is 
not a perfect world.
  I support this assistance bill because I believe it is necessary to 
maintain our transportation and aviation infrastructure. Passing this 
legislation does not absolve Congress from moving forward with air 
travel safety and dislocated worker assistance. We must do both as soon 
as possible. There are other industries that have been and will be 
effected by the events of September 11, 2001. We must look at these 
issues in a broader context.
  This financial emergency assistance package will ensure the survival 
of a vital engine to our economy, the airline industry. We cannot 
afford to wait. By getting the aviation industry back on track, we will 
have a downstream effect that will provide a boost to all of the 
related industries that have been hit hard by this tragedy: the car 
rental agencies, travel agents, tourism, restaurants, theme parks, 
cruise lines and the list goes on and on and it even multiplies.
  By no means does passing this bill today end our work. This is only 
the first step. We must also address safety and displaced-worker 
protections immediately.
  It is essential that we address safety. We need to restore confidence 
in the flying public. No financial aid package will bring passengers 
back to the planes unless they feel safe. Passengers need to feel sure, 
or they will indeed stay home.
  I strongly believe that a worker-relief package must be addressed by 
this body as soon as possible. We must provide dislocated worker 
protections and extended health care coverage, not only for airline 
workers, but all workers affected by this tragedy; or, again, the costs 
will multiply. But I do believe that these issues should be addressed 
in a separate package. This is not the time to try to address every 
issue in one bill.
  These are not ordinary times. Congress is being called on to do 
extraordinary things, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation today.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from South Dakota (Mr. Thune).
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, let me say that safety is job one, which is 
why the airlines, when they were grounded last week, were given a whole 
set of new rules and regulations by which to live. Anybody who thinks 
that security is not being taken seriously in this country ought to go 
to one of the airports, because we have a whole new list of things that 
we are dealing with that will keep our airports more safe and secure.
  Mr. Speaker, I am one who believes in an expanded role for the 
Federal Government in airport and airline security, and that discussion 
and debate is under way about how best to do that.
  In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks of September 11 
have sent the entire airline industry into an economic crisis with 
bankruptcy just a few weeks away for the entire industry. These 
desperate times require action. I believe it is Congress' 
responsibility to act.
  As a fiscal conservative, I am extremely cautious when it comes to 
spending the money of South Dakotans and all Americans. However, our 
country has been the victim of a despicable act of terrorism that has 
ricocheted throughout our entire economy. No business could have 
foreseen the acts of September 11. In this time of open conflict, it is 
our responsibility to preserve the American aviation industry.
  Mr. Speaker, in South Dakota where air service is provided by small 
carriers to small airports, we have been hit especially hard. We have 
already seen carriers curtail air service to some of our communities. 
However, this legislation contains specific provisions to help small 
communities in rural States like South Dakota.
  I appreciate the leaders on both sides working with me to include 
language that gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to 
ensure that airplane service to small communities continues without 
interruption. It also includes a $55 million increase in the amount of 
money authorized under the Essential Air Service Program. This means 
that small communities across our Nation will have enhanced access to 
much-needed essential air service funding.
  I am pleased that Congress has chosen to make air service a priority 
for our Nation. I am pleased this legislation contains language to 
ensure that communities across the country will maintain the air 
service they have been accustomed to.
  Mr. Speaker, I would conclude by saying I look forward to working 
with the administration, the carriers and

[[Page 17618]]

the communities to preserve air service, and with the help of this 
legislation, make sure that those small communities across South Dakota 
and across this country continue to have the air service they currently 
have and that it is safe and secure for the future of America.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm).
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the 
legislation which it permits to be taken up later tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which will 
provide necessary assistance to our airlines and protect this sector of 
our Nation's infrastructure.
  We must resolve ourselves to restore the financial stability of our 
airlines--for we do this not for the sake of the airlines alone, but 
for the sake of the millions of air travelers.
  Even with this assistance, Americans still will be asked to 
sacrifice, for our country has changed. And yet we know that our 
country has faced and conquered so many other challenges in its proud 
history and we will survive this as well.
  Thousands of workers in the travel industry have already lost or will 
lose their jobs, and citizens will be impacted by reduced options for 
air travel.
  My district has already felt the brunt of these airline cutbacks. 
Continental Express will discontinue service to Abilene and San Angelo 
Airports beginning October 1, and the sole remaining carrier, American 
Eagle, has announced that it will reduce the number of daily flights to 
Dallas-Fort Worth.
  I commend Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar for including 
language in this bill to protect rural communities and small airports. 
Each community that had service prior to September 11 must be assured 
of continuing air service, and I encourage Secretary Mineta to take 
steps to ensure this.
  It is also important for the airlines to realize that now is not the 
time to unreasonably raise fares on passengers--especially in rural 
areas that are served by only one or two carriers. We must make sure 
that airfare remains reasonable and affordable for all Americans.
  We must make our Nation's sky safe again, by increasing security at 
our airports and on the airplanes themselves, but tonight by ensuring 
the financial security of the airlines.
  This bill is not perfect. In fact there are many changes I would have 
made. But this bill is the best we can do tonight.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Wynn).
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's airlines do need our help. They 
are indeed in a crisis situation. I know in my own State of Maryland, 
U.S. Airways, which has a major economic impact, is in real trouble.
  I think there is a large consensus that we ought to help them and we 
ought to provide the $15 billion that they will need to keep flying. 
But there is another question that needs to be asked that the American 
people need to keep at the forefront of their minds during these grim 
times, and that is simply this: What about the workers? What about the 
workers?
  Make no mistake. Even with this $15 billion infusion, there will 
still be layoffs; there will still be dislocation. Many of us have 
said, in this bill we ought to deal with those problems. We ought to 
deal with the problem of extending unemployment compensation; we ought 
to deal with the problem of extending health care benefits; we ought to 
deal with the problem of job retraining.
  I believe in balance and fairness. We ought to help the industry; we 
ought to give the $15 billion. But it is not fair to ignore the 
employees, the workers, the clerks, the baggage handlers, the cooks, 
the mechanics, the people that keep the airplanes flying and say, well 
you wait until later. That seems to be the approach of some in this 
body that we will take care of that later. They have made a commitment 
that they will indeed address the workers' concerns. I sincerely hope 
that they will keep that commitment, and I hope the American people 
will take them to task; that in the weeks to come, we will, in fact, on 
the floor of this House deal with the question of protecting our 
dislocated workers, because they are the people who truly keep America 
flying.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that recently passed in the other body 96 
to one. Ninety-six to one. I had to come to the floor because I could 
not believe the rhetoric that I am hearing, the passion. I understand 
the song that is being sung, but let us remember what is occurring here 
at the moment. An industry is hemorrhaging. Hemorrhaging. Folks, let us 
calm down for a moment here.
  When you look into a pond and it is nice and glassy on a calm, 
windless day and you take a rock and you throw it into a pond, sure you 
see the splash; but then you have the ripples that go far out 
infinitum. We are trying to deal with those ripples and bring calm to 
it before it hits the shores. Here is an industry that is approaching 
100,000 layoffs. We cannot give in to the terrorists. We have to have 
this immediate infusion.
  I have great respect for the leaders of both parties that negotiated 
this. Let us bring calm here also to our words.
  This needs to pass. Yes, it is an economic stabilization. Yes, we 
have to address security assurances. Yes, we have to address liability. 
There is plenty of work still yet for us to do.
  I want to compliment the Governor of Indiana, Frank O'Bannon, a 
Democrat governor. He sent a letter to me and said, ``I would like to 
urge you to support the enactment of the economic assistance for our 
domestic airline industry as quickly as possible. As you well know, the 
tragic hijackings of the four commercial jets last week resulted in the 
first-ever complete shutdown of our air traffic system. This closure 
itself cost the airline industry hundreds of millions of dollars each 
day. The continued closure of Reagan Washington National Airport, 
heightened security measures, reduced passenger demand due to concerns 
about air safety pose significant obstacles to recovery. Without 
Federal assistance, including grants and loans, many airlines will go 
bankrupt.''
  I want to compliment Democrat Governor Frank O'Bannon.
  Republicans and Democrats are unified. We are unified and there is 
unity to do this measure, so please let us be very cautious about the 
rhetoric and the tone that is being used here on this floor, and let us 
continue our work in a bipartisan fashion on behalf of the American 
people.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Hinchey).
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, everyone in this House wants to be sure 
that we have a sound airline industry and that it is functioning 
properly for the American people. But this bill does not do enough in 
too many areas and in some areas, it does what it does in the wrong 
way.
  The bill, first of all, provides $5 billion in outright grants to the 
airline industry. The September 21 report of the Democratic staff of 
the Joint Economic Committee estimates that because of the shutdown, 
the airline industry in the United States has lost between $360 million 
and $1 billion, and this bill gives them $5 billion in outright grants 
and another many billions of dollars and more in loan guarantees follow 
upon that.
  If we want people to get back into airlines, the way to do that is to 
increase the confidence of the American people in the airline industry. 
The way to do that is to put safety procedures in place, the kind of 
safety procedures that the airline industry has resisted for decades, 
since deregulation. These people who run these airlines are using the 
cover of crisis for financial gain, and that is what is happening in 
the context of this bill. No safety procedures, no increases in safety 
procedures, no additional confidence on the part of the American 
people.
  If we want people back in the airlines, we have to make them safe. 
Why are we not requiring the airlines to do the kinds of things that 
will produce confidence in the people who ride on these airlines? Where 
is that $5 billion going? What is it going to be used for when the 
airlines have only lost less

[[Page 17619]]

than $1 billion as a result of the shutdown.
  Then, of course, there is the issue of the people who work for the 
airlines who are getting absolutely nothing out of this particular 
piece of legislation.
  Airline executives making between $5 million and $35 million a year, 
at a time when the economy has been at its best in modern history, at a 
time when more people are flying, have nevertheless been able to run 
several of these airline companies into the ground, and now we are 
rewarding them with additional billions of dollars.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I have one piece of concern about the 
legislation that I wanted to air here. The bailout, or the $5 billion 
portion, is given on the basis of formula, which is fine, as it should 
be. However, the next portion, the loan guarantees, will be distributed 
based not on a formula, but where a governmental entity or a group of 
individuals will simply pick winners and losers: you have more cash 
flow than the other guy. You have a bigger asset base than the other 
guy. You win; you lose.
  I hope that as this goes forward, if this legislation passes, that we 
are vigilant here in ensuring that those who dole out that money do so 
in an equitable basis and do not try to pick winners and losers in the 
economy.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Pelosi).

                              {time}  2000

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. At a time when the 
American people expect, more than ever expect and truly deserve a full 
discussion of our response to our national tragedy, the Committee on 
Rules has presented us with a closed rule.
  At a time when the collateral damage to workers associated with the 
airline industry can run up to 100,000 layoffs, we are not even allowed 
to discuss amendments to help them. At a time when the airline industry 
has placed the burden of safety on the travelers with 3-hour waits 
before scheduled takeoffs, and present us with a bill which barely 
mentions safety, a bailout of the airline industry will only be a 
temporary fix if we do not get passengers back on the flights.
  The airlines must do a better job of facilitating travel, and this 
Congress must do a better job for the thousands who are losing their 
jobs. To do anything less while we are considering a $15 billion 
bailout is a national disgrace. I urge my colleagues to oppose this 
rule.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and of the underlying 
bill. A week ago tonight, actually early in the wee hours of Saturday 
morning, I stood on this floor and urged my colleagues to pass the bill 
that was before us then.
  At that time, I discussed the fact that the airline industry had been 
massively attacked, and that it was suffering, and if we did not act, 
we would bring financial consequences to the airline industry, and 
people would lose their jobs. In point of fact, sadly, that prediction 
turns out to be true. We now know of some 100,000 layoffs in the 
industry. How many of those layoffs would not have occurred if we had 
been able to send the right signal last week?
  Our enemies do not seek just to destroy buildings, such as the 
Pentagon and the World Trade Center, they seek to destroy our economy. 
We cannot let that happen. This bill is a piece of intensely negotiated 
legislation on which there are fair compromises on each side. Many of 
my colleagues have concerns about the liability provisions, but as a 
result of the compromise which has occurred in the last several hours, 
in the last several days, those compromises are fair.
  There is a claims procedure under which the victims of this atrocious 
act will be able to get relief without having to rely on an attorney, 
and that is a good move. They should not be victimized again by having 
to pay a huge contingency fee in order to recover.
  The danger in this bill, however, lies in the ability of the Airline 
Stabilization Board to allocate the monies which are allocated for loan 
guarantees. Those funds are absolutely critical to keep our airlines in 
the air.
  Sadly, under the wording of this bill, that board can pick winners 
and losers. We do not need the government picking winners and losers. 
It is vitally important that we ensure that the airlines of America, 
not just the big carriers who have lots of capital, who have an old 
fleet with a lot of equity in it that can stay in the air, but it is 
vitally important that we keep the small carriers, the cost-sensitive, 
low-priced carriers, in the air. They are much less able to qualify for 
those loans.
  This legislation should say, ``If you were flying on September 10, we 
are not going to let the act of these terrorists destroy you and keep 
you from flying, because we understand that will put your employees out 
of work.''
  I urge my colleagues to make sure that we should not let the 
stabilization board pick winners and losers and hurt the employees of 
the small airlines while picking winners for the employees of the 
bigger airlines.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. It is amazing, the 
last speaker said those airlines that were flying on September 10 
should continue flying. That is exactly the amendment I offered in the 
Committee on Rules today, which the Committee on Rules rejected. 
Because what we have found, Mr. Speaker, is the airline industry is 
asking for billions of dollars of taxpayers' money, and yet they are 
telling some of us in certain parts of this country, we are no longer 
going to service your area.
  If you are taking the taxpayers' money and if you are flying and 
doing well before September 11, 2001, why are they now cutting out 
service to areas like Chattanooga; Escanaba, Michigan; and the rest of 
this country? They are using the terrorist attack as an excuse to get 
out of certain marketplaces.
  The intent of my amendment was not to minimize or aggravate the 
losses incurred by the airline industry, but a sense of fairness. If 
they can service our areas before the terrorist attack and take 
billions of dollars from us, they should at least be able to continue 
to service our area.
  That was our amendment, straight up, forward. That is all we wanted. 
It was to ensure that areas do not get dropped by airline carriers in a 
rush to save money during this time. It is a real concern that the 
carriers will use this emergency as an excuse to cut routes, and, 
indeed, they already have.
  The amendment states, ``Any carrier who drops service within the next 
2 years to an airport they served prior to September 11 will not be 
eligible for funding under the airline bailout bill.'' If a carrier 
stops providing air transportation to an airport, then the carrier must 
repay the United States the amount of money that they received.
  Billions of dollars in aid should not be given to private industry 
without some promises in return. Our communities are the heart and soul 
of America, and should not suffer undue hardship as a result of this 
tragedy. We cannot leave this to the airlines' discretion. They have 
already spoken. They have spoken loudly. They will cut service in some 
parts of this country.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Grucci).
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished friend, the 
gentleman from New York, for yielding time to me. I thank all those in 
the House here tonight, and all those working on this bill.
  About a week ago, when I saw what will forever be known as Ground 
Zero in New York, my heart ached. My heart ached for those who were 
afflicted with the pain and suffering, and for those who were going 
through the rubble and trying to find human life that was left.

[[Page 17620]]

  Now my heart aches for more Americans, people who are out of work, 
people who are affected, small business owners across this country, 
because the airline industry is not up and running. It is the people 
who live in my district who work there as well. I want to help them. I 
will do all that I can to do that. But before we can put them back to 
work, we have to put the airlines back in the air. We need to do all we 
can to make sure that this country continues to move forward.
  We are going to do what we need to do. I heard the President say 
that; that not only are we going to rebuild New York and Washington, 
but we are going to rebuild our economy. That is going to be one brick 
at a time. As we move forward, we are going to take piece by piece, and 
this piece is to help put the airline industry back in solvency so we 
can go forward and put people back to work.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown).
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
time to me.
  First of all, let me say that everybody in this House feels the pain 
of what is going on in the country, and certainly we all want to be 
supportive. I personally sat through the testimony of the CEOs in the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I know that our 
carriers need some relief.
  But I refuse to vote for a bill that was never debated in committee, 
and does absolutely nothing for the thousands of employees and 
businesses that rely on the airline carriers for survival. We are 
handing over $5 billion, a blank check, to the airline CEOs, and over 
$10 billion in loan guarantees, with no questions asked; but not one 
single dime for the over 100,000 employees who the airline carriers are 
laying off.
  How can we go back to the district and tell those hardworking men and 
women that we were not able to provide a dime for them, but yet we are 
giving the CEOs $5 billion? Mr. Speaker, the airline carriers are 
taking advantage of us. We are being chumps.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Brady).
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
time to me, and I thank him for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress is right to act because America's air 
transportation system is as critical to our economy as our highways, 
our railroads, and our seaports. This is important locally to me 
because the 20,000 Continental Airlines furloughs are causing a great 
deal of hardship for our families in our communities. Without swift 
action from Congress, many more of our jobs and our businesses will 
suffer greatly, and so will our chances for recovering from this 
economic strain, and as we work to open new markets for Texas and for 
the United States.
  These are extraordinary times, and in the end, whatever concerns we 
may have, we simply cannot sit idle and give terrorists the 
satisfaction of toppling America's economy as they did the Twin Towers. 
This is crucial legislation tonight, now, for America.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill today aids the airline companies that were 
devastated by the terrorism of September 11: United, American, Delta, 
Northwest, and U.S. Air, and the others who on average have announced a 
20 to 25 percent reduction in employees, and cutting 25 percent, on 
average, of routes. By all accounts, they need the aid.
  But the airline industry is not solely these largest of the airline 
corporations. This bill provides no parallel aid for the nearly 100,000 
direct employees of those companies who are losing their jobs, and this 
bill does not even contemplate the spin-off losses of jobs in the 
travel/tourism industry, the hotels and resorts, the restaurants, and 
travel services. That is a severe inequity.
  Beyond that, this bill does absolutely nothing to assure the American 
public that they can travel safely in the new world that has followed 
September 11. Yesterday, the joint subcommittees of the Committee of 
Appropriations, the joint Senate and House subcommittees, held a 
hearing and heard powerful testimony from the FAA, the GAO, the IG, 
which documented the utterly porous security systems operated by the 
airlines. They have found that the screeners frequently fail to detect 
guns, knives, and other threats; that they have been able to repeatedly 
to breach the secure areas in a large percentage of the airports, and 
once they had breached the secure areas, could enter easily aboard 
aircraft.
  Mr. Speaker, why is it that these breaches of security systems are so 
easy? The IG and the GAO cite low wages and low benefits of the 
employees, little or no training, weak and no criminal investigations 
of the screeners, no uniform standards for screening. In other words, 
they are largely dead-end jobs providing security. We must come back to 
this bill, even though I am going to support the legislation.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Traficant).
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, the terrorists not only wanted to kill 
Americans, the terrorists wanted to destroy the great symbols of 
America's freedom: New York, the Trade Center, the Pentagon. If not for 
those brave Americans, that plane in Pennsylvania would have probably 
visited this Capitol.
  I do not think there is anybody who has fought more for jobs in this 
Congress than I have. Failure to pass this bill will do something that 
I think was unintended by the terrorists. It will give them a victory 
because our aviation industry shutdown kills our economy, kills more 
jobs, and destroys and wrecks the stability of our freedom.
  This is not a perfect bill, but we have the word of the Speaker, the 
minority leader, that they will revisit this issue and this bill will 
be perfected. But failure to pass this bill gives these terrorists a 
victory that they never envisioned. They wanted a symbolic victory. We 
are giving them an absolute economic victory. That cannot occur, it 
should not occur, and Congress should do one other thing: not divide 
our resolve. That is the real goal of these terrorists.
  Stay together, pass the rule, pass the bill, and let us fix that as 
we go on, as we remedy this great disaster.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, every single Member of this body and 
every person in this country understands fully that a functioning 
airline industry is vital to the functioning of our country. Yet, I 
stand in opposition to this legislation. Why? Because, remarkably, this 
bill completely ignores the heroes in the airline industry who were and 
are most deeply and personally affected by the September 11 atrocities, 
the thousands of everyday airline workers who are now losing their jobs 
as a result of the September 11 attack.
  Members can look in every line and in every page of this bill and we 
will not find a single mention of them. Those airline executives who 
earn up to $35 million a year, they will find a whole section here, but 
not a word about the up to 100,000 industry workers who will lose their 
jobs even if we pass this bill.
  An angry and hurt Association of Flight Attendants said, ``It is sad 
how quickly those who sacrificed to make our country great, even in 
these times of tragedy, get left out when corporations go asking for 
taxpayer money.''
  This bill says nothing about unemployment benefits, job training, and 
health benefits. I stand here tonight ready to help the airline 
industry, but not just a part of it. Those who say they will help 
workers next week or the week after, have to be asked: Why not tonight? 
If we add them to the bill, I would gladly and proudly vote yes.

                              {time}  2015

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the

[[Page 17621]]

gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stay 
here and address these issues: the worker employment issues and the 
safety issues and security issues we have talked about.
  There is no doubt that the airline industry is in need of assistance. 
This industry is vital to our nation's economic strength, and its 
current struggles have far-reaching implications for all segments of 
American society. Therefore, at this time of national emergency, I 
agree that we should help stabilize this important cog in the American 
economic wheel. However, I do not believe that we should simply provide 
a ``bailout'' bill for airline companies at the expense of American 
taxpayers.
  As we consider the amount of assistance we are providing, we also 
need to ensure that there are sufficient provisions to assist everyone 
who has been affected by this tragedy. First, we must compensate the 
victims of the September 11th attack. Second, we need to take steps to 
prevent future tragedies. Third, we need to help the airline industry, 
but we also must remember those hard working airline employees who have 
lost their jobs. Finally, we need to provide support for smaller 
airports throughout the country. In providing assistance to the 
beleaguered industry, we must be mindful of these objectives.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I have reservations about whether or not 
this bill is mindful of those objectives. I have serious concerns about 
the lack of employee assistance provisions in this legislation and 
believe that we, the United States Congress, should be working through 
the weekend to ensure that those airline employees who need our help 
receive assistance as soon as possible. I am hopeful that the majority 
will keep its commitment to move additional legislation to help working 
families next week.
  Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, despite my reservations about this 
legislation, I do recognize that it is an important start in a time of 
great national crisis and will therefore support its passage. I believe 
that we should provide assistance to the airline industry, but believe 
it should be done responsibly. The American people demand it, and the 
American people deserve it.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here in the Chamber tonight with a heavy heart. I 
will support this bill reluctantly, but I will oppose the rule. And I 
will oppose it because of the reasons that so many of my colleagues 
have given.
  I am very disappointed that there is no relief for workers for the 
airline industry. There is no job training, there is no unemployment 
compensation, there is no health benefits protection to laid-off 
workers. None of that is in the bill. I know we are going to revisit it 
next week, and I hope we get a bill then, but it should be in the bill 
tonight.
  Also, we all know that federalizing the security workers that are by 
the x-ray machines is something that we are going to have to do. Why 
are we not addressing this issue in the bill tonight? The fat cats, the 
heads of the airline industry, are guaranteed and locked in for 
millions, but American workers are not given the right time of day.
  We ought to stay here and we ought to perfect the bill. That is why I 
am going to oppose this rule, because we should be having amendments 
that will deal with these issues that we are talking about. What could 
be more important than helping American workers? So I will support the 
bill, but I will oppose the rule. The airline industry needs to be 
helped, but we should be doing everything tonight.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As I have been working on seeing this rule come to the floor for some 
24 hours, I cannot help but reflect that the goal I hope to achieve by 
helping to invest some of America into our airlines is to protect those 
jobs that I have heard so much discussion about, to stop the layoffs, 
to stop the slowdowns of our economy, not just for the employees of the 
airlines that we have made reference to today but for all of America 
who is dependent on those airlines being in the air.
  We are now in a global economy. We are dependent on the strength of 
the airline industry to make America work strong. And when I look at 
the investment of taxpayer dollars into our airlines, I am thinking 
about jobs and the economy first. I am thinking about not only the 
airline jobs, which are so important, but I am thinking about the jobs 
in my community and across America that people are working in. 
Americans working day in and day out are dependent on our airlines, 
whether they use them in their work or they are dependent on the goods 
and services that those airlines bring about in the reality of their 
jobs.
  We are looking today to move forward with an opportunity for saving 
jobs, creating jobs, and addressing the jobs so dependent on our 
airlines. We have heard speeches made in debate today regarding the 
workers themselves, the airlines, men and women working across America 
in the tourism industry. That is why I think we need to move ahead and 
pass this rule so that we can get America working strong, able to 
depend upon the airline industry, which is so vitally important.
  I think we have seen a recognition of that in the last rule vote. I 
think we will see that in this vote as we move forward to debate the 
bill. This legislation is about preserving and growing jobs in the 
airline industry, which means so much to this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of the time remaining on each 
side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). The gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Reynolds) has 5 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Frost) has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Sanchez).
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Rules for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no question that we must help the airline 
industry. They are in a real danger of financial collapse. However, I 
have real concerns with the way that we are going about giving the 
airline industry financial assistance. We have left the workers behind 
in this bill, the workers who are or in so many cases were the heart 
and the soul of the very industry we may be bailing out this evening.
  Despite the efforts over the last several hours, hours to digest and 
debate a bill of this magnitude, the leadership in this House, the 
people's House, has refused to include in this legislation any relief 
for the tens of thousands of workers in the airline and related 
industries who have lost or will soon lose their jobs because of this 
crisis.
  I have voted against the martial rule; and I will vote against this 
rule, because I believe that a bill this size, this magnitude, of this 
importance should not be rushed through the Congress. However, I will 
vote for this bill because I do not have a choice. The leadership has 
left no choice.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is not even close to perfect, but I will 
support it.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Green).
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of not only 
the rule but also the Air Transport System Stabilization Act of 2001.
  Last week, this country suffered a terrible human loss when 
terrorists decided to use our airline industry as a weapon of mass 
destruction. The human magnitude of this attack has now started to 
crystallize, but the economic consequences of many of our industries, 
like the airlines, is only now becoming known.
  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the terrorists have brought 
financial ruin on our national airline system. Our national carriers 
have suffered a 50 to 80 percent drop in passenger miles flown, and 
that number may actually get worse in the short term. Congress must 
step in immediately and provide a financial floor for the industry. 
They need help, and they need it now.

[[Page 17622]]

  I understand there are many in this Chamber who want to attach a 
broad list of legislative mandates and conditions on the bill. I would 
like to do some of these. But this assistance is only the first step. 
If we delay providing financial assistance one more week while we 
haggle over these proposals, this industry would not need the $15 
billion because they will be out of business. That is because airlines 
are going to start declaring bankruptcy and will not need the money.
  Delaying this financial assistance package means more workers will 
lose their jobs and Wall Street will continue to punish their stocks.
  Let me make something very clear, our number one priority should be 
the jobs of the thousands of airline employees being furloughed or 
laid-off. But, we cannot begin to help them until we arrest the 
airlines sinking financial position. This legislation is not a bailout, 
it is a helping hand that I hope all the airlines fully appreciate.
  Mr. Speaker, I do also want to interject that I would like to see all 
the airline CEO's show some solidarity with their workers by agreeing 
to take a cut in pay. I understand that the legislation caps their pay, 
but I do not think this is sufficient in the face of the thousands of 
pink slips being handed out. Tough times need to be shared by all. My 
colleagues, we have time left in this session to bring a second more 
comprehensive airline reform package to the floor.
  I know the chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), will work 
with all Members to address their concerns, but please lets get this 
package out the door today.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Dicks).
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, this legislation tonight certainly is not 
perfect, but we have a very dire situation that faces the airlines. I 
happen to come from the State of Washington, which is a State that has 
already been affected with the Boeing Company announcing a layoff of 
30,000 workers in our State. I believe this legislation will help stem 
that terrible loss and will keep people at work, both in the airlines 
and at Boeing.
  I am deeply disappointed, however, that the leadership chose not to 
put in place the unemployment compensation benefits that would help the 
unemployed workers at Boeing and help the unemployed workers at the 
airlines. It is my understanding that the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Gephardt) and the Speaker will have a colloquy in which they will state 
their intention to bring legislation up next week. My support for this 
legislation is contingent upon that happening.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to offer my support for this legislation 
because I believe it is necessary for the survival of the airline 
industry in our country at this time. Without the infusion of cash and 
loan guarantees that is contained in this bill, I believe we would run 
the real risk that this vital component of our transportation system--
so critical to our economy and our way of life--will cease to operate. 
We have already seen huge airline layoffs resulting from the disaster 
of September 11th, along with the resulting airport closures and sharp 
decline in air passenger traffic. And in the Puget Sound area of 
Washington State that I represent, we face the prospect of 20,000 to 
30,000 layoffs at the Boeing Company in the year ahead, due to the 
industry decline that was certainly exacerbated by the terrorist 
attacks last week. This package we are considering today will help us 
avoid more bad news, Mr. Speaker, and deeper job cuts.
  However, my support of this bill is contingent on the premise that a 
comprehensive package of assistance for workers in the airline industry 
and at Boeing will become law in the next few weeks. This broad array 
of benefits, including income support, skills training, educational 
assistance and other re-employment help is absolutely necessary, and it 
recognizes the tangible impact on workers in the industry as a result 
of this terrible national tragedy. In fact, I would have preferred if 
we had included this worker assistance in the legislation we are 
considering today in the House of Representatives, because the workers 
deserve an immediate sign from the federal government that they will 
not be forgotten as we are responding to the financial crisis among the 
airline companies themselves.
  Already, I have begun working with the State of Washington and the 
U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that existing programs of income 
support and training are able to meet the sudden huge demand that may 
be placed upon them. It is important to marshal these resources to help 
get these workers through the tough economic times ahead.
  So I support the legislation to help the struggling airline industry 
in America at this critical time, Mr. Speaker. But I do so with the 
understanding and the hope that the workers who will be affected 
downstream by these same financial problems will know that help is on 
the way to them also.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Farr).
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time. I rise as the other co-chair of the 
Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, along with my colleague, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).
  I rise in support of the bill but with great concern. We have shown 
nothing but unanimity since the disaster last week. The airlines need 
this help, but it is not only the airlines that need this help, it is 
the employees of the airlines that need this help and it is all the 
other tourism related issues. I really want to ask my colleagues on the 
other side to try to keep the unity that we saw last night by really 
helping all of the industry affected in the United States, not just the 
airlines.
  I support this because it is a 3-5-10 bill. And to explain that: it 
is $5 billion in direct aid; it is $3 billion for airport security, and 
certainly I think there is more needed in airport security, I think we 
need to Federalize all our security and we need to have a surcharge on 
that; and, lastly, it is $10 billion in loan guarantees.
  It is a good bill but a bad process.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) 
has 5 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) has 
1\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a troubled conscience to 
address the rule before this body.
  September 11 marked one of the darkest moments in our country's 
history. On that day, terrorists struck at the heart of our social and 
economic fabric, and the ripple effects of this tragedy are still being 
felt. In particular, the airline industry was severely impacted, 
resulting in tremendous economic hardship for the carriers, the people 
who work for them, and the travel industry as a whole.
  This bill will allow the airlines to continue flying, provide some 
security for our airports and airways, and grant critical compensation 
to the families of victims of last week's barbaric attack. For those 
reasons, I hesitate to vote ``no.'' Nonetheless, the bill does little 
for more than the 100,000 workers laid off as a result of this tragedy. 
Millions of laid-off workers and their families will be left behind 
with no guarantee they will retain their unemployment benefits.
  The security provisions do not go far enough. The airline industry 
has fought the government tooth and nail over increased airline safety. 
We cannot afford for the airline industries to fail; but they deserve a 
stern warning, not just a check.
  That is why I will vote ``no'' on the rule.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 
\1/2\ minute.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, as many people have indicated, this is not a 
perfect bill, but we have very little choice. We need to move forward 
tonight. We must pass this legislation.
  I urge adoption of the rule and adoption of the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  There has been a lot of debate on this rule about jobs and providing 
some assistance for what will be laid-off airline workers. And as I 
said earlier, I hope

[[Page 17623]]

that we will have the opportunity, by strengthening our airline system, 
that they will be called back.
  We have many challenges ahead of us in the hard work that this House 
and the other body and the administration has. I think about New York 
City, at the other end of my State, faced with 30 to 40 million square 
feet of lost office space, and 40,000 workers no longer working every 
day. And while we look at some of the things we face, and it is 
apparent we will have future debate on some of the airline industries 
assistance for laid-off workers, we have so much work to do in a 
comprehensive package that we need to work together on as we address 
some of these national tragedies that occurred in America in loss of 
jobs, let alone loss of life in New York City.
  Our focus here today was to save jobs and continue an airline 
industry that this country is critically dependent on. The ripple 
effect of last week's attacks have been felt all over the world. In the 
blink of an eye, the way of life that we have taken for granted for so 
long has been changed forever.
  Despite that national state of shock, thousands of our fellow 
citizens immediately went to work to ensure the safety and security of 
our American citizens. Within a matter of hours on the day of the 
attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration carefully orchestrated the 
safe grounding of every single airplane flying within the United 
States. This quick response and cooperation from the entire airline 
industry ensured the safety and well-being of countless individuals.

                              {time}  2030

  But in the wake of the cowardly attacks on our Nation, scheduling 
cutbacks and subsequent reductions in the number of flights have hit 
the industry hard. We as Members of Congress know that full well. 
Already there have been over 80,000 airline-related layoffs with more 
expected. We must remember that this is not just an industry giant that 
is suffering. It is a critical component of our way of life and a vital 
segment of our national economy.
  Our airlines move people and products across America and throughout 
the world. They serve not just business and tourism, but can, quite 
literally, determine whether we are able to compete in a global 
economy. The rule is now before us.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, the federal government must come to the aid 
of the airlines, and help them quickly, or the repercussions will be 
felt from coast to coast, all over our economy. Before September 11, 
our economy was at the tipping point; if the airlines fail, the economy 
will surely move into a recession, and the downturn will be deeper and 
longer.
  I also believe that the victims of this tragedy, whether in the air 
or on the ground, deserve compensation, and most citizens will be 
pleased to know that this bill uses their tax dollars for that purpose. 
But in this case, where the liability of the airlines is unsettled, I 
do think there are limits to which victims' compensation by the 
government should be provided. This bill sets up a Victims' 
Compensation Fund, but does not specify the size of the fund or the 
maximum that any beneficiary can recover. Many of the victims in the 
World Trade Center earned many times the incomes of the firemen and 
police who died trying to protect them. Under this bill, the heirs of 
those victims will be eligible for many times more benefits than this 
bill will allow those brave firemen and police. Quite a few claimants 
will be able to show substantial incomes. The earning capacity of their 
decedents will run into millions of dollars. I do not doubt their 
losses, or the grief their survivors must feel, but I do think the 
compensation to which they are entitled under this bill should be 
subject to some fair and reasonable limit. At this point, no one has 
any idea what the government's liability under the Victims' 
Compensation Fund may be, though it is likely to be substantial.
  I wanted to propose that we set a fair but generous cap on the 
victims' benefits paid by the government, and use some of the money 
saved to help the thousands of airline workers who are being terminated 
or laid off, and are in a real sense, victims of the September 11 
tragedy also. H. Resolution 244, the rule allowing this bill to come to 
the House floor, would not permit me to offer such an amendment, and 
for that reason, I voted against the rule. I will vote for the bill, 
but it would be a much better bill if such an amendment had been made.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Rule. The 
rushed process by which this airline relief legislation has been 
brought to the Floor does not allow for full consideration of the 
critical elements that the public deserves to have addressed.
  The rule does not allow Members to add provisions to this legislation 
that would provide a more fair and comprehensive relief package to 
protect and restore the entire aviation industry, including those who 
work for airlines and in other directly related industries. In this 
time of extreme tension and sense of urgency, we should be urgent about 
doing things right and not rushing to consider solutions that only 
address half of the problem.
  Federal assistance to stabilize the industry is warranted. I cannot, 
however, support a rule that fails to consider all of the ripple 
effects to those people and businesses across the country who are 
directly impacted by last week's tragic events.
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, every member of this house understands that 
the airline industry has been devastated by the terrorism of September 
11th.
  We must provide help to the airline industry. I am sure we will do 
that today. This bill today aids the airline companies and by all 
accounts they need aid. United, American, Delta, Northwest, and US 
Airways are laying off 20-25% of their workforces and cutting 25% of 
their routes.
  But this bill provides no parallel aid for the nearly 100,000 direct 
employees who are losing their jobs. Furthermore, this bill does not 
even contemplate the spinoff losses of jobs in the travel and tourism 
industry, the hotels and restaurants, the resorts and travel services. 
This is a severe inequity.
  Beyond that, this bill does absolutely nothing to assure the American 
public that they can travel safely in this new world that the terrorism 
of September 11th has imposed on us all.
  Yesterday, in a joint hearing, the Senate and House Transportation 
Subcommittees on Appropriations heard powerful testimony by the FAA, 
GAO, and Inspector General documenting the utterly porous security 
systems operated by the airlines.
  Both the GAO and IG have extensively tested the security systems and 
found that screeners frequently fail to detect guns, knives, and other 
threats at security check points. The IG repeatedly breached secure 
areas in a large percentage of their tests at major airports. Once they 
entered secure areas, they could easily board aircraft.
  Why are the breaches of the security system so easy?
  The GAO and IG cite: low wages and benefits of security personnel; 
little or no training of screeners; weak to no criminal checks on 
screeners; no uniform standards for screening; very rapid turnover 
(from 80% to over 200%).
  In other word these are largely dead end jobs. DEAD END JOBS 
protecting the security of American travelers.
  This bill does nothing to correct the obvious error of placing 
airline companies in a double conflict of interest that the present 
system creates. First, spending the necessary money to provide the 
security that Americans must have comes from the airline's bottom line. 
Second, proper screening requires time and causes longer waits in line.
  But Americans will not return to the airways unless they are 
convinced that travel is safe. So, we must professionalize the airport 
security system with the ultimate responsibility for that security 
system firmly federalized.
  In conclusion, neither the plight of employees of airlines and the 
related travel and tourism industry nor the necessary security of the 
American public when they fly is considered in this bill. Both will 
have to be addressed very soon.
  But today, we have a bill that deals with an important part of the 
airline industry problem.
  I urge this House to do that much, but then come back and finish the 
job before we adjourn this session of Congress.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). The question is on the 
resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 285, 
nays 130, not voting 16, as follows:

[[Page 17624]]



                             [Roll No. 346]

                               YEAS--285

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Andrews
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barr
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bentsen
     Berkley
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Blagojevich
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Coble
     Collins
     Combest
     Cooksey
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cunningham
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Diaz-Balart
     Dicks
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     English
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Greenwood
     Grucci
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hansen
     Hart
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Honda
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Isakson
     Israel
     Istook
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Kanjorski
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kerns
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Largent
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Mascara
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCrery
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     Meehan
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Mica
     Miller, Gary
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myrick
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Riley
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Roukema
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Saxton
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Snyder
     Souder
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stump
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Toomey
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Vitter
     Walden
     Wamp
     Watkins (OK)
     Watson (CA)
     Watts (OK)
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson
     Wolf
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NAYS--130

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Baca
     Baldwin
     Barcia
     Barrett
     Becerra
     Bishop
     Blumenauer
     Bonior
     Boyd
     Brady (PA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Condit
     Costello
     Coyne
     Cummings
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Doggett
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Evans
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Gutierrez
     Hall (TX)
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hoeffel
     Holt
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Jackson (IL)
     Jefferson
     Jones (OH)
     Kaptur
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind (WI)
     Kleczka
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Lee
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Lowey
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Markey
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McDermott
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meek (FL)
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller, George
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Obey
     Olver
     Owens
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Schakowsky
     Scott
     Sherman
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Spratt
     Stark
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thurman
     Tierney
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walsh
     Waters
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Woolsey
     Wu

                             NOT VOTING--16

     Bereuter
     Berman
     Carson (IN)
     Conyers
     Cox
     Deutsch
     Dingell
     Fossella
     Frank
     Hefley
     Holden
     Issa
     Linder
     Miller (FL)
     Schaffer
     Towns

                              {time}  2049

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mrs. McCARTHY of New York, Ms. RIVERS, and Mr. 
DOGGETT changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Ms. LOFGREN changed her vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________