Airport Alert: President-elect Biden to Unveil Coronavirus Rescue Package
January 14, 2021
The Biden plan appears to be light on transportation-related initiatives. It includes $20 billion for public transit agencies as a way to "keep agencies from laying off transit workers and cutting the routes that essential workers rely on every day…." But a summary circulating today does not mention any aviation-related provisions.
The same document indicates that "President-elect Biden will lay out his economic recovery plan to invest in America, create millions of additional good-paying jobs, combat the climate crisis" in the coming weeks.
As the incoming Biden administration and lawmakers gear up to consider another coronavirus relief package, AAAE and ACI-NA are calling for an additional $17 billion to help airports through the ongoing pandemic, along with further help for general aviation airports and concessionaires. The two airport associations yesterday sent a letter to key Congressional leaders outlining their request for additional assistance.
The coronavirus relief package that Congress passed last month included $2 billion for airports and concessionaires. It also contained $15 billion to extend the Payroll Support Program for the airlines.
Biden Plan
The new Biden plan is expected to include $350 billion for state and local governments – a top priority for Congressional Democrats and sticking point in the last relief package. It also proposes to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Both proposals will likely encounter stiff opposition from Republicans on the Hill.
The plan includes $1,400 per-person stimulus checks. When coupled with the $600 checks in the coronavirus relief package that Congress cleared last month, the total amount would climb to $2,000. The Biden plan also includes $400 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits.
On the direct coronavirus front, the plan contains $400 billion to help fund national vaccination program, to expand testing and to take other steps to "fight the virus." $130 billion would go toward safely reopening schools and $25 billion for an emergency stabilization fund to help child care providers.
The Biden plan appears to be light on transportation-related initiatives. It includes $20 billion for public transit agencies as a way to "keep agencies from laying off transit workers and cutting the routes that essential workers rely on every day…." But a summary circulating today does not mention any aviation-related provisions.
The same document indicates that "President-elect Biden will lay out his economic recovery plan to invest in America, create millions of additional good-paying jobs, combat the climate crisis" in the coming weeks.
As the incoming Biden administration and lawmakers gear up to consider another coronavirus relief package, AAAE and ACI-NA are calling for an additional $17 billion to help airports through the ongoing pandemic, along with further help for general aviation airports and concessionaires. The two airport associations yesterday sent a letter to key Congressional leaders outlining their request for additional assistance.
The coronavirus relief package that Congress passed last month included $2 billion for airports and concessionaires. It also contained $15 billion to extend the Payroll Support Program for the airlines.
Biden Plan
The new Biden plan is expected to include $350 billion for state and local governments – a top priority for Congressional Democrats and sticking point in the last relief package. It also proposes to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Both proposals will likely encounter stiff opposition from Republicans on the Hill.
The plan includes $1,400 per-person stimulus checks. When coupled with the $600 checks in the coronavirus relief package that Congress cleared last month, the total amount would climb to $2,000. The Biden plan also includes $400 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits.
On the direct coronavirus front, the plan contains $400 billion to help fund national vaccination program, to expand testing and to take other steps to "fight the virus." $130 billion would go toward safely reopening schools and $25 billion for an emergency stabilization fund to help child care providers.
