U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would authorize $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding grants for America’s bus, motorcoach and passenger ferry industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Maine’s bus and motorcoach companies provide good-paying jobs and offer critical transportation service to travelers, schools, sports teams, summer camps, and tour groups,” Sen. Collins said on July 10. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, these small businesses are struggling.”
Sen. Collins on July 2 signed on as the original cosponsor of the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act of 2020, S. 4150, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI).
If enacted, S. 4150 would authorize the distribution of the funding grants through the U.S. Treasury Department to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flag passenger vessel operators, and other U.S. transportation service providers, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Collins’ office.
“Passenger vessel companies in Maine – including ferries and tour boats – are experiencing a similar strain” compared to other transportation operators, said Sen. Collins, who noted that the bipartisan bill will “help ensure that these critical links in our transportation systems remain strong.”
The legislation, which has been endorsed by the American Bus Association, the United Motorcoach Association, the National School Transportation Association, the Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Passenger Vessel Association, is under consideration by members of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.