Release #: 20.12
May 15, 2020

ALPA Applauds House Passage of the “Heroes Act”


MCLEAN, Va.—Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or HEROES Act:

“ALPA applauds the House passage of this crucial bill that will further help workers weather these uncertain times. ALPA pilots have been working tirelessly for a mandate that airlines follow essential Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) health protocols, and we are grateful that the HEROES Act includes that important provision. 

“Requiring uniform guidance for COVID-19 health monitoring, protection, and employee exposure notification and workplace disinfection is a key component in regaining public confidence in air travel and getting our passengers back on board.

“ALPA also applauds House leadership for including language that requires CARES Act grant recipients to forgo involuntary furloughs from September 30, 2020, through the exhaustion of the financial assistance. 

“While the House bill includes important worker protections, ALPA will continue the fight for bankruptcy reform in future legislation to ensure that workers are not exploited during a corporate reorganization. 

“ALPA pilots remain committed to helping our industry weather this storm, protecting crew and passenger health and making sure workers come first. We’re not letting up on doing whatever it takes to get the aviation economy back on a positive trajectory.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 63,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org