Release #: 20.28
October 02, 2020

Government Leaders Must Reach a COVID Relief Deal to Save Aviation Jobs

MCLEAN, Va.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement today after Representative Peter DeFazio’s (D-OR) freestanding bill to provide airline worker relief by extending the Payroll Support Program (PSP) was rejected in the House of Representatives through the unanimous consent process. Earlier in the day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged to enact the DeFazio bill or include a PSP provision in a larger COVID relief measure.

“ALPA continues to implore Congress to move legislation to extend the PSP as part of the comprehensive COVID-19 relief package under negotiation by Congress and the White House. For the tens of thousands of airline workers who were furloughed this week, an extension of the CARES Act Payroll Support Program is necessary to keep them from further economic and professional hardship and to help avoid the disastrous impact on the aviation industry, which is crucial to our nation’s economic recovery.

“We appreciate Chairman DeFazio’s continued commitment to our nation’s airline workers and pledge to work with all parties to prevent massive layoffs and disruptions to the U.S. airline industry.

“We urge Speaker Pelosi to find an agreement with Secretary Mnuchin to protect frontline aviation workers by extending this job-saving program before it is too late. If the parties are unable to reach agreement on a larger package, the House and Senate must move standalone legislation to extend the PSP.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 59,000 pilots at 34 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