WASHINGTON, DC—Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released new details of the COVID-19 relief proposal to help fill out President Biden’s $1.9 trillion framework, the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion package, which includes nearly $100 billion within the Committee’s jurisdiction, will deliver badly needed aid to the American people, including transportation workers whose jobs are at risk due to the ongoing economic downturn and the severe decline in ridership across all transportation modes.
“For the past year, as the U.S. has struggled to contain the spread of COVID-19, millions of transportation workers have been indispensable to not only keeping our transportation systems operable but also to ensuring supplies, from everyday items to life-saving vaccines, reach their destination. Our transportation systems—and the men and women who keep them running—will be equally essential to our long-term economic recovery when we finally turn the corner on COVID-19.
“That is why I was proud to fight on behalf of transportation workers again in this latest rescue package. This plan can make a real difference in people’s lives. Amtrak will be able to recall workers and restore long-distance service. Small- and minority-owned businesses will be able to keep the lights on at airports around the country. Tens of thousands of airline workers won’t fear losing their paycheck and benefits in a matter of weeks. Buses and trains can keep running and operators will be protected with PPE. We can replenish our nation’s Disaster Relief Fund— the list goes on. While our work is far from over, this plan takes another critical step toward preventing essential systems from collapsing under the weight of the pandemic and will help to keep millions of Americans out of unemployment lines. I strongly encourage my colleagues in Congress to support this badly-needed relief.”
Last week, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure focused its first hearing of the new session of Congress on COVID-19’s impact on transportation workers.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill includes:
- FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund: $50 billion for reimbursement to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments dealing with ongoing response and recovery activities from COVID-19, including vaccination efforts, deployment of the National Guard, providing personal protective equipment for critical public sector employees, and disinfecting activities in public facilities such as schools and courthouses.
- Transit: $30 billion to help assist with operating costs, including payroll and personal protective equipment.
- Airports: $8 billion, including $800 million for airport concessionaires.
- Economic Development Administration: $3 billion to provide economic adjustment assistance to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Aerospace manufacturing: $3 billion for a temporary payroll support program to retain or rehire workers.
- Amtrak: $1.5 billion to recall and pay employees furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of fiscal year 2021 and to restore daily long-distance service.
In addition, Chair DeFazio strongly supports extension of the Payroll Support Program for aviation workers, a program he has championed since the onset of the global pandemic. Since the PSP is administered by the Secretary of the Treasury it is included in the reconciliation proposals put forth by the House Financial Services Committee.
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