[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9511]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 1559, EMERGENCY WARTIME 
                         SUPPLEMENTAL ACT, 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2003

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Obey motion 
to instruct conferees to recede to the Senate amendment to the 
Emergency Supplemental bill, which would provide 26 weeks of additional 
temporary extended unemployment compensation for displaced airline 
related workers.

  Mr. Speaker, I support our decision to provide assistance to the 
airline industry which is already a casualty of the War on Terrorism. 
Aviation workers fully understand the need to protect their country and 
workplace from future attacks. Over 150,000 aviation workers have 
already lost their jobs, and many of those who remain have been forced 
to take significant pay and benefit cuts to keep their companies 
afloat.

  If we don't act immediately to provide emergency relief, the airlines 
are predicting another 70,000 job losses and even deeper cuts due to 
the war in Iraq. Many will no longer have the ability to pay basic 
living expenses. If we do nothing, workers will be forced to bear the 
expense of the war.

  However, as we protect the airlines we must protect their workers as 
well. The Murray amendment in the Senate bill would assist those 
aviation workers who will lose their jobs by providing extended 
unemployment benefits, help for laid-off families to cover health care 
costs and job retraining assistance. To my dismay and regret, Congress 
after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, provided initial relief 
to airlines, while turning its back on relief for the workers 
themselves. We have the opportunity today to take another course and 
assist aviation workers who will likely be disproportionately affected 
by a war.

  I urge my colleagues to support the Obey motion to instruct.