[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17816]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 17816]]

         AIR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND SYSTEM STABILIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2926, the 
Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act when it was 
considered by the House of Representatives on September 21, 2001.
  This bill would provide $5 billion in direct aid to the airlines for 
losses incurred as a result of the government-ordered shut-down of the 
nation's air travel industry, as well as $10 billion in loan 
guarantees.
  I oppose this legislation because I believe that it is incomplete. It 
fails to address several important and time-sensitive issues.
  I oppose H.R. 2926 because this bill does nothing to help the tens of 
thousands of hard-working Americans who were laid off by the airlines 
and airline manufacturers in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001. 78,000 airline employees and 30,000 employees of 
aircraft manufacturers have been or are going to be laid off. The 
workers who lost their jobs as a result of these terrorist attacks are 
also victims of the terrorists. While they were fortunate enough not to 
have lost their lives, they have lost their livelihoods through no 
fault of their own.
  The airline workers who have lost their jobs will need continued 
health insurance coverage and job search and possibly retraining 
assistance. Unemployment benefits don't last very long, so time is of 
the essence. And while these employees can continue their existing 
health insurance coverage under COBRA, they will be responsible for the 
full cost of the premiums, which a family with the chief breadwinner 
out of work can find it difficult if not impossible to afford. 
Consequently, I believe that the federal government should provide 
premium assistance to the affected families.
  This bill should contain provisions to help these unemployed 
individuals and their families. I think that it is unacceptable that 
Congress will act swiftly to help the airline companies while ignoring 
the injured employees of those companies. It is even more unacceptable 
in light of the fact that multi-million dollar severance packages are 
available to the Presidents and CEOs of the major airlines.
  In addition, I oppose this legislation because it does nothing more 
than express the Congress's commitment to act expeditiously to 
strengthen airport security. It did absolutely nothing to actually 
improve airline security. I believe that improving security in airports 
and on airplanes should be our first and highest priority. I am 
convinced that airport security can no longer be left to the airlines. 
Now that terrorist attacks on airliners have become a major national 
security threat, I support the assumption of responsibility for airport 
security.
  Finally, I am concerned that the bill does not adequately address the 
liability issue. I believe that a little more time should be taken to 
think through the liability issue and come up with a more equitable, 
comprehensive solution.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that these shortcomings should be addressed 
before the House passes H.R. 2926. Consequently, I urge my colleagues 
to join me in supporting the motion to recommit and in opposing this 
legislation in its current form. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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