Action Alert: Senate Republicans to Unveil "Skinny" Relief Package; Airports Need to Continue to Weigh in with Lawmakers
August 19, 2020
Senate Republicans are expected to unveil a "skinny" coronavirus relief package that includes funding for the U.S. Postal Service and extend unemployment benefits but exclude funding for airports and other initiatives covered in the HEALS Act. The move is expected to counter House Democratic leaders, who are planning to pass their own Postal Service bill on Saturday in an effort to bolster the mail system before the upcoming elections.
"Skinny" Relief Package
The new "skinny" relief bill is expected to be similar to the HEALS Act, a $1 trillion coronavirus relief package that Senate Republicans unveiled just a few weeks ago. But the slimmed-down bill is not expected to include funding for airports and some other supplemental appropriations measures included in the broader bill. As we have previously reported, the HEALS Act proposed $10 billion for airports - $9.5 billion for commercial service airports and $500 million for general aviation airports.
Senate Republican leaders have not yet released their slimmed-down relief package, but based on drafts that are circulating we expect the bill will likely include liability protection for businesses and health care providers -- a top priority for Republicans -- and $10 billion for the Postal Service. House Democrats are proposing $25 billion for the Postal Service.
The Senate bill is also expected to propose $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits and extend the Paycheck Protection Program. But the measure will not likely appease Democrats, who are calling for more federal assistance.
The recent dustup over the Postal Service has not brought lawmakers closer together on a broader coronavirus relief package. Negotiations between the White House and Congressional Democrats have stalled over a dispute about the overall funding level and what the relief package should include.
Democrats initially prosed approximately $3.5 trillion in spending - far more than the $1 trillion that Republicans have proposed. Democrats had offered to split the difference at $2 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recently suggested she is still willing to meet Republicans in the middle, pass urgent relief now and come back in January to deal with the rest of their proposal.
Request
It is unclear how the debate on funding for the Postal Service and a broader coronavirus relief package will play out in the days and weeks ahead. But in light of Senate Republicans floating a "skinny" relief package without funding for airports, we need to redouble our efforts and remind lawmakers again how critical it is for the next coronavirus relief package to include at least $10 billion for airports.
Please contact your Senators and Representative as soon as possible and ask them again to ensure that the next coronavirus relief package includes at least $10 billion to help airports deal with the global pandemic. We're also asking lawmakers to provide an additional $3.5 billion to help concessionaires and other airport partners.
Talking Points
"Skinny" Relief Package
The new "skinny" relief bill is expected to be similar to the HEALS Act, a $1 trillion coronavirus relief package that Senate Republicans unveiled just a few weeks ago. But the slimmed-down bill is not expected to include funding for airports and some other supplemental appropriations measures included in the broader bill. As we have previously reported, the HEALS Act proposed $10 billion for airports - $9.5 billion for commercial service airports and $500 million for general aviation airports.
Senate Republican leaders have not yet released their slimmed-down relief package, but based on drafts that are circulating we expect the bill will likely include liability protection for businesses and health care providers -- a top priority for Republicans -- and $10 billion for the Postal Service. House Democrats are proposing $25 billion for the Postal Service.
The Senate bill is also expected to propose $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits and extend the Paycheck Protection Program. But the measure will not likely appease Democrats, who are calling for more federal assistance.
The recent dustup over the Postal Service has not brought lawmakers closer together on a broader coronavirus relief package. Negotiations between the White House and Congressional Democrats have stalled over a dispute about the overall funding level and what the relief package should include.
Democrats initially prosed approximately $3.5 trillion in spending - far more than the $1 trillion that Republicans have proposed. Democrats had offered to split the difference at $2 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recently suggested she is still willing to meet Republicans in the middle, pass urgent relief now and come back in January to deal with the rest of their proposal.
Request
It is unclear how the debate on funding for the Postal Service and a broader coronavirus relief package will play out in the days and weeks ahead. But in light of Senate Republicans floating a "skinny" relief package without funding for airports, we need to redouble our efforts and remind lawmakers again how critical it is for the next coronavirus relief package to include at least $10 billion for airports.
Please contact your Senators and Representative as soon as possible and ask them again to ensure that the next coronavirus relief package includes at least $10 billion to help airports deal with the global pandemic. We're also asking lawmakers to provide an additional $3.5 billion to help concessionaires and other airport partners.
Talking Points
- On behalf of _______, I urge you to ensure that the next coronavirus package includes at least $10 billion to continue to help airports respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Although the CARES Act is helping airports through the immediate crisis, we expect to face considerable challenges on the months and years ahead. Despite a slow uptick in recent weeks, passenger numbers are still down approximately 70 to 75 percent from the same time last year.
- With a significant drop in passengers, airport revenue continues to suffer. Meanwhile, airports are facing new operating demands and increasing strains on their outstanding debt.
- [Please explain how the coronavirus is impacting you're your airport - passenger levels, revenues, etc.]
- Congress can help by providing airports with additional federal assistance. The HEALS Act, which Senate Republicans unveiled last month, includes $10 billion to help large and small airports around the country. I strongly support the proposed airport funding.
- Getting more federal funds out the door and into local communities as quickly as possible would ensure that airports can continue to respond to new operational demands, pay for debt service on their bonds, and help keep their critical safety and security projects on track.
- Again, please make sure that the next coronavirus relief package includes at least $10 billion to continue to help airports respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
