09.21.01

Cantwell Votes for Airline Relief Package, but Criticizes Congress for Failure to Provide Assistance to Boeing and Airline Workers

WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate today passed an important economic relief package that will help major U.S. airlines avoid bankruptcy. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted for the bill, but criticized Congress for failing to include any provisions for job training and other services that would benefit Boeing and airline industry workers who are being laid off due to the economic impacts of last week's terrorist attacks.

Cantwell, who with other members of Washington's congressional delegation has been working hard to include worker assistance in the bill, said that Congress' failure to do so leaves displaced workers to bear a disproportionate share of the economic burden of terrorism. Following final passage by the Senate this evening, Senator Cantwell issued the following statement:

(Senator Cantwell's statement)

"Madame President, last week's terrorist attacks murdered thousands of innocent Americans, and left thousands more grieving for friends and loved ones. Those people are the first and most visible victims of the unprovoked terrorist attacks - but they are not the only ones.

"Already tens of thousands of workers at major U.S. airlines have lost their jobs due to the economic fallout of the terrorist attacks on September 11. Current projections are for a total of 100,000 airline jobs to be cut this year - nearly 10 percent of the industry workforce. Boeing, America's leading aircraft manufacturer, has announced it will lay off up to 30,000 employees by the end of 2002.

"These workers and their families are secondary victims of the terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and Congress should not leave them to bear a disproportionate share of the economic burden of terrorism.

"I am supportive of the overall intent of this bill and the need to shore up the airline industry, but I still have some concerns.

"I am pleased to see the inclusion of a provision that protects, at least to some degree, airline commitments to serve smaller communities.

"The current airline relief package is good as far as it goes - but it does not go far enough:

It does not include funding for airport security upgrades, a vital step to help restore passenger confidence and increase passenger volume. Along with cash to help the airlines recover, we should provide additional security to increase passenger safety so that more people will be willing to fly again more quickly.

The airline relief package does nothing to ensure that airlines will uphold their contractual obligations and other commitments to employees. Those should be fundamental qualifications for any airline seeking government assistance.

Finally, and most troubling of all, the airline relief package does nothing to directly benefit the thousands of airline and aircraft manufacturing workers who are being laid off as a result of the recent terrorist attacks.

"In his speech to the nation last night, President Bush told the American people "justice will be done." If Congress passes an airline relief package that does not include some form of worker assistance, we will have done a grave injustice to thousands of American workers and their families who are suffering the aftershocks of terrorism.

"I have worked with several of my colleagues over the past several days to develop a reasonable package of worker assistance provisions, and I believe that we have a proposal that makes a great deal of sense and would take at least a small step toward helping those workers get back on their feet. That package would extend income supports, pay for the extension of healthcare coverage and provide training assistance to the affected workers.

"I'm deeply disappointed that those provisions were not ultimately included in the bill, but pleased that the Majority Leader has committed to continue his work on this critical component in the days to come. I will continue to work with Senator Daschle on this effort, along with my colleagues Senators Murray, Kennedy and Carnahan, who have labored so diligently these past days in support of American workers.

"In the meantime, I think that the industry needs to step up to the plate. I'm very concerned about reports that some airlines are considering invoking the war clause to avoid contractual obligations to their workers. That, Madame President, would be a tragic failure of their obligation to the American people to act in good faith. Let's be clear, American taxpayers are shouldering the burden of this relief package, and I think they will be angry if workers are not treated fairly while the airlines get relief.

"In addition, I call on the airlines to make it a priority to honor their contracts with American manufacturers, to the fullest extent possible, as adjustments to aircraft orders are being considered.

"For the past 10 days, ever since the terrorist attacks, my congressional colleagues have spoken eloquently and with great emotion about the courage, compassion and commitment of the relief and rescue teams who have reached out a helping hand to victims of terrorism. Today, we have our own chance to help thousands of other Americans who have been harmed by terrorism. We must not turn away."