[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18117-18118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      AIR 2001 TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND SYSTEM STABILIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2926, 
legislation that will help our nation's air infrastructure recover from 
the shocking terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
  The September 11 tragedy dealt a dual blow to the airline industry; 
not only did American and United Airlines lose highly esteemed pilots 
and flight attendants in these violent hijackings, the subsequent 
federal shutdown of the airways also had a severe financial impact on 
carriers and led to the layoffs of more than 100,000 workers. Our air 
infrastructure supports the American economy by transporting goods and 
people across this great nation, and its continued strength is 
essential to the ongoing economic health of the United States. However, 
airlines also provide an opportunity to exercise the American freedom 
of movement. Every year, millions of Americans use air travel to visit 
their friends and families, take vacations, and conduct business 
throughout the country. Congress is now poised to bolster the airlines 
and restore confidence in our ability to fly.
  H.R. 2926 will provide $5 billion in immediate cash assistance to 
airlines to compensate for losses incurred during the federal grounding 
order. The measure also includes $10 billion in loan guarantees to help 
airlines adjust to the lingering effects of the September 11 attacks. 
By promoting the continued

[[Page 18118]]

viability of air travel, this legislation will also assist other 
businesses reliant on the airline industry such as aircraft 
manufacturers, travel agents, rental car agencies, hotels, and other 
travel- and tourism-related companies--all of whom have been adversely 
affected by the recent slowdown in air travel. Coupled with significant 
improvements in airline and airport safety, which I urge Congress to 
address in the immediate future, H.R. 2926 will stabilize and restore 
confidence in air travel.
  However, I am quite dismayed that this legislation contains no 
provisions to help the 100,000 workers in the airline and airline-
related sectors who have lost their jobs in the aftermath of September 
11. If we truly hope to boost our nation's economy, we must ensure that 
these men and women receive unemployment benefits, as well as the 
educational and retraining assistance needed to minimize the transition 
time between jobs. Additionally, Congress must enact legislation to 
provide these families federally-subsidized COBRA health insurance 
during this difficult time.
  Finally, it is critical that we move quickly to adopt a legislative 
response to the need for enhanced security in our airports and on our 
aircraft. The federal government must play a major role ensuring the 
safety of our travel, and we must act soon. I understand that the House 
leadership intends to address these concerns in the near future, and, 
in the spirit of bipartisanship, I stand ready to work with them in 
these efforts.

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