Date: 2001-10-02
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the 140.000 airline industry workers who have been or are expected to be laid off. I am a cosponsor of Mr. GEPHARDTS legislation. H.R. 2955. the Displaced Workers Assistance Act. I urge the House swift adoption of this or similar legislation. However. I also want to call attention to legislation I introduced in March. long before this crisis. My bill. H.R. 886. would eliminate Federal income taxation of unemployment benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 90 percent of all unemployment compensation claimants owe taxes on their benefits and that Federal taxation eats up 17 percent of their benefits. This is a form of taxation that is regressive and cruel. because it takes from those who need it most at a time when Mr. Chairman. to make sure that they receive they are most in need. that relief. I urge my colleagues to support acThe aviation sector is certainly the hardest tion for Americas airline employees. hit due to the September 11 events. The ef- . Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker. in the aftermath fects are now rippling throughout the economy. of the September 11 terrorist attacks. thouand have pushed an economy that was tee- sands of workers have lost their jobs. tering on the brink of recession over the edge. Over the past 3 weeks. over 100.000 people My bill would not only relieve the economic have lost their jobs. Individuals who earn their hardship that airline workers will experience living in the airline. hotel. tourism. and other but also the hardship that workers in other related industries have been hit extremely parts of the economy will experience as the hard. Many other: industries. have felt the economic downturn continues. pinch. too. While my tax cut is eligible to individuals We all know that the Twin Towers provided who become unemployed regardless of their jobs for thousands of analysts. brokers. and income. it would have the greatest benefit to other financial workers. but it was also the lowincome taxpayers who have to make the source of jobs for janitors. window washers. greatest adjustments to meet basic necessities cooks. and others. The Service Employees such as rent. utilities. food. and clothing for International Union (SEIU) represented over themselves and their children. - 500 of these workers. Mr. Speaker. I urge swift adoption of H.R. These were not high paying jobs. and many 886. as a standalone bill. as part of an airline of these individuals live paycheck to paycheck employee relief package. or in a broader eco- without large Savings accounts. Now. their funomic stimulus package. ture remaing in doubt. The terrorist attacks of September 11 not Congress acted swiftly to help the airline inonly caused tremendous physical destruction dustry but forgot about the airline employees. to lives and property but also dealt a body Organized labor decried the bailout bill. blow to our air carriers. Airlines hemorrhaged They insisted that any bill passed should help more than $1 billion in the week following the all the workers who lost their jobs because of attacks. when their planes were ordered by these disastersnot just the airline industry. the Federal Government to be grounded. They And they are right. continue to lose money because passengers We should be extending and increasing unare still hesitant to fly. employment benefits for workers.-We should Airlines have taken painful steps to control be increasing job training opportunities. And their costs. including reducing flight schedules we should be increasing access to healthcare. and laying off thousands of workers. Our countrys livelihood depends on these Congress acted swiftly and decisively to sta- workers and we should do everything possible bilize the financial situation of the airlines. by to assist them through these tough times. passing a $15 billion package of grants and Some of the proposals we have seen will loan guarantees. I supported this legislation help displaced workers. but we should do because I recognized that if it did rnot -pass. more by creating jobs by investing in infraAmerican Airlines in my district could be structure. helping small businesses. and supforced to lay off even more workers and other porting programs that help businesses invest airlines could be forced to.file bankruptcy. in our communities. At the same time. I was troubled that the fi- If we pursue this course. jobs will be crenancial stabilization bill was an incomplete ated and businesses will surely benefit. package that did not also provide relief for the We will never forget that thousands of lives heart and soul of- our airlinesits workers. were lost and many more were devastated beNow that the airlines are already receiving cause of these terrorist acts. But as Members their distributions in grant assistance. it is time of Congress we can help put these lives back to finish the job. We must ensure that there together. are adequate resources to provide airline workers with extended unemployment benefits. training opportunities. and continuation of A NEW VISION FOR U.S.-RUSSIAN health care coverage for them and their fami- RELATIONS lies.- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under Mr. Speaker. I urge expedited consideration the Speakers announced policy of Janof the Displaced Workers Assistance Act and uary 3. 2001. the gentleman from Pennmy bill to eliminate Federal taxation of unem- sylvania is recognized for ployment benefits. 60 minutes as the designee of the ma-