Action Alert: Senators to Urge President to Provide Federal Funding to Airports

 

A United States Senator is seeking signatures for a letter she intends to send to the White House today that asks the President to help airports dealing with COVID-19 outbreak. The move comes as airports are making the case that airport relief must be included in the current package that lawmakers and administration officials are crafting to address the impacts of the coronavirus.

 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is spearheading the letter that asks the President to work with Congress to ensure that airports have the resources they need to respond to the current crisis. Like airports around the country, Shaheen is calling for an influx of federal funds with increased flexibility to allow airports to use the resources for debt service, operational expenses and other lawful purposes.

 

"As your administration considers proposals to help our nation's airlines respond to this public health crisis, we urge you to ensure sufficient funding is also available to meet the needs of our nation's airports," the letter states. "This includes providing robust federal assistance through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program (AIP) in any supplemental appropriations bill."

 

So far, eight other Senators have agreed to cosign the letter including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). We plan to help circulate the final letter to key Senate and House leaders who are also working on putting together the next coronavirus relief package.

 

Request: We realize that we asked you to weigh in with your lawmakers earlier this morning. But please also ask your two Senators to sign the Senator Shaheen letter requesting federal funds to help airports. Her office has a 3:00 p.m. Eastern deadline so they can send it to the White House later this afternoon. Thanks for your help.