Airline passengers and airline workers have a tremendous stake in whether Congress recognizes the vital importance of the U.S. airline industry and its workers to the recovery of the U.S. economy. As a flyer, you can help save hundreds of thousands of jobs—and the U.S. airline industry—by urging Congress to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program, which expires on October 1.
With your participation, we can make certain the U.S. airline industry continues to fulfill its essential role in fueling the global economy, supporting the U.S. military, and transporting people, goods, and services across the country and around the world. And you can prevent more hardworking Americans from losing their jobs and help stop our economy from heading into a recession.
Already, tens of thousands of passengers and cargo shippers have joined airline employees in sending more than 195,000 messages to Congress in support of extending the Payroll Support Program. Individuals from Texas and Florida to California and Colorado have also sent more than 70,000 tweets encouraging their elected representatives to help kick-start recovery for an industry that not only forms the backbone of the U.S. economy but also brings families and friends together and moves products for American businesses of every size.
At the same time, U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have also affirmed the importance of continued economic relief for aviation-sector employees. On August 5, 16 Republican senators sent a letter urging Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to include an extension of the CARES Act Payroll Support Program in the next economic relief bill. Recently, a bipartisan majority of House members also expressed strong support for the legislation to extend airline payroll support. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Katko (R-NY), Sharice Davids (D-KA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Karen Bass (D-CA) led the effort to ensure airline workers are protected in the next relief legislation. On August 6, President Trump announced his support of a clean extension of the Payroll Support Program.
As an airline passenger who flies for leisure or business, or a cargo shipper who depends on air transportation to move freight across the state or around the globe, we need your help in fueling a strong return for the U.S. airline industry and making sure the workers who keep it running safely and efficiently are protected.
Time is of the essence. The U.S. airline industry, its workers, and our nation’s economy can’t wait another month for the U.S. government to pass relief legislation. Please contact your Member of Congress now.