Joyce introduces bipartisan bill to extend federal support for airline workers

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on Sept. 22 introduced a bipartisan bill to provide support for the nation’s air carrier workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Joyce signed on as the original cosponsor of the Air Carrier Worker Support Extension Act of 2020, H.R. 8345, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) to extend the airline worker Payroll Support Program (PSP) for six months through March 2021.

“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Plaskett to ensure the hardworking Americans in the aviation industry can keep the lights on and provide for their families as we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic,” said Rep. Joyce. “I’m hopeful that Congress can come together quickly to enact a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill that includes this [PSP] extension, as well as additional relief for workers across all industries struggling during these difficult times.” 

Similar to the Payroll Protection Program, the PSP was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and provided up to $32 billion in federal aid to maintain airline industry jobs. The program has saved 950,000 jobs in the aviation industry, according to Rep. Joyce’s office.

“When Congress passed the CARES Act, we created several programs to protect American workers, including the Payroll Support Program,” said Joyce. “This program has successfully kept hundreds of thousands of pilots, flight attendants, airline customer service agents, and aviation mechanics on payroll throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But with air travel remaining at historic lows and the Payroll Support Program expiring on October 1, tens of thousands of those workers are at risk of being laid off.” 

The measure is supported by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the Air Line Pilots Association, and Airlines for America (A4A), and has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Financial Services Committee and the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.