Airport Alert: Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan COVID Relief FrameworkWith Proposed Fund for Airports, Airlines
December 1, 2020
A bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers today unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief framework that proposes $45 billion for transportation including funding for airports and airlines. The move comes as Congressional leaders are coming under increasing pressure from rank and file members to find common ground and pass a bipartisan coronavirus relief package before the end of the year.
At a press conference in a House office building this morning, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) indicated that the group of lawmakers had been working intensely during the past month to come up with a bipartisan plan. He called on Congress to act and noted that unemployment insurance, temporary relief from federal student loans, and other COVID-19-related assistance programs are set to expire at the end of the month.
Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) said that the plan includes $348 billion in new money and $560 billion repurposed from the CARES Act. Lawmakers indicated that the funds are intended to provide relief from the end of December to March 31, 2021.
Machin said it would be 'inexcusable' for Congress to not pass a coronavirus relief package before the end of the year – a sentiment echoed by other lawmakers in the bipartisan and bicameral group. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) went so far as to say it would be 'stupidity on steroids' if Congress adjourned at the end the year without passing a coronavirus relief package.
Senators Manchin, Warner, Romney, Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have been involved with the effort along with Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tom Reed (R-NY), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Fred Upton (R-MI).
Transportation
The COVID Emergency Relief Framework includes $45 billion for transportation. According to a slide that the group of lawmakers released at today's press conference, the funding will be for 'airlines, airports, buses, transit and Amtrak.' Press reports indicate that $4 billion of that amount will go to airports and $17 billion for airlines. However, additional details or specific bill language have yet to emerge.
Other Initiatives
Aside from the transportation funding, the framework includes funding for other key initiatives including $160 billion for state and local governments – a top priority for Democrats. It proposes to help small businesses by extending the Paycheck Protection Program at a cost of $288 billion.
It includes $180 billion for unemployment insurance and $16 billion for COVID vaccine development and distribution. The proposal also includes some liability protections for businesses in the short-term, which has been a priority for Senate Republicans.
What's Next?
It's unclear whether this bipartisan proposal will gain traction on Capitol Hill and whether Congressional leaders will seriously entertain the proposal. Previous efforts by the Problem Solvers Caucus have not advanced the ball. The current bipartisan plan is substantially less than the $2.4 trillion that Democratic leaders are proposing and almost twice as much as the $500 billion targeted relief package that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing.
McConnell and Senator Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made another pitch for their respective proposals on the Senate floor yesterday. It certainly didn't seem like the two found any common ground over the Thanksgiving break. McConnell accused Democrats of taking a 'all or nothing approach.' And Schumer similarly said the Republican leaders have yet to propose 'real compromise.'
Request
It will be challenging for lawmakers to work out their differences in the next few weeks. That said there is still a chance that lawmakers could come together on a bipartisan plan, and the framework that lawmakers released today could provide a much-needed spark.
We urge you again to reach out to your respective lawmakers as soon as possible and ask them to include funding in the next coronavirus relief package for airports and our partners in the aviation industry. The Action Alert that we released yesterday includes contact information and talking points to help with your communication.
A bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers today unveiled a $908 billion coronavirus relief framework that proposes $45 billion for transportation including funding for airports and airlines. The move comes as Congressional leaders are coming under increasing pressure from rank and file members to find common ground and pass a bipartisan coronavirus relief package before the end of the year.
At a press conference in a House office building this morning, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) indicated that the group of lawmakers had been working intensely during the past month to come up with a bipartisan plan. He called on Congress to act and noted that unemployment insurance, temporary relief from federal student loans, and other COVID-19-related assistance programs are set to expire at the end of the month.
Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) said that the plan includes $348 billion in new money and $560 billion repurposed from the CARES Act. Lawmakers indicated that the funds are intended to provide relief from the end of December to March 31, 2021.
Machin said it would be 'inexcusable' for Congress to not pass a coronavirus relief package before the end of the year – a sentiment echoed by other lawmakers in the bipartisan and bicameral group. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) went so far as to say it would be 'stupidity on steroids' if Congress adjourned at the end the year without passing a coronavirus relief package.
Senators Manchin, Warner, Romney, Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have been involved with the effort along with Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tom Reed (R-NY), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Fred Upton (R-MI).
Transportation
The COVID Emergency Relief Framework includes $45 billion for transportation. According to a slide that the group of lawmakers released at today's press conference, the funding will be for 'airlines, airports, buses, transit and Amtrak.' Press reports indicate that $4 billion of that amount will go to airports and $17 billion for airlines. However, additional details or specific bill language have yet to emerge.
Other Initiatives
Aside from the transportation funding, the framework includes funding for other key initiatives including $160 billion for state and local governments – a top priority for Democrats. It proposes to help small businesses by extending the Paycheck Protection Program at a cost of $288 billion.
It includes $180 billion for unemployment insurance and $16 billion for COVID vaccine development and distribution. The proposal also includes some liability protections for businesses in the short-term, which has been a priority for Senate Republicans.
What's Next?
It's unclear whether this bipartisan proposal will gain traction on Capitol Hill and whether Congressional leaders will seriously entertain the proposal. Previous efforts by the Problem Solvers Caucus have not advanced the ball. The current bipartisan plan is substantially less than the $2.4 trillion that Democratic leaders are proposing and almost twice as much as the $500 billion targeted relief package that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing.
McConnell and Senator Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made another pitch for their respective proposals on the Senate floor yesterday. It certainly didn't seem like the two found any common ground over the Thanksgiving break. McConnell accused Democrats of taking a 'all or nothing approach.' And Schumer similarly said the Republican leaders have yet to propose 'real compromise.'
Request
It will be challenging for lawmakers to work out their differences in the next few weeks. That said there is still a chance that lawmakers could come together on a bipartisan plan, and the framework that lawmakers released today could provide a much-needed spark.
We urge you again to reach out to your respective lawmakers as soon as possible and ask them to include funding in the next coronavirus relief package for airports and our partners in the aviation industry. The Action Alert that we released yesterday includes contact information and talking points to help with your communication.
