Letters To Congress

As the elected leaders of labor organizations who represent transportation workers across every segment of the industry, we urge you to use this September congressional session to pass an economic relief package that our nation and frontline working people urgently need. As we commemorated Labor Day last week, it was a reminder of the vital role that frontline workers have played in steering us through this public health and economic crisis. In the public sector and private sector, everywhere from hospitals to grocery stores, working people are putting themselves at risk for the benefit of all. Transportation workers have been at the center of these efforts, making sure that the goods and people that keep our country healthy get where they need to be. Now these workers, and the broader economy, need your help. It would simply be unacceptable to close this fiscal year without enacting substantial, worker-centric economic relief legislation.

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, I urge you to cosign a letter being circulated by Representatives Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) urging the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to ensure that language critical to both the domestic maritime industry and national security is retained in the FY’ 21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I strongly urge you to vote in favor of the Delivering for America Act (H.R. 8015) when it is considered on the floor. This legislation would provide $25 billion in relief to mitigate the disastrous financial impacts COVID-19 has had on the United States Postal Service (USPS). Passage of this bill is essential to ensuring full operations of the Postal Service at the level relied on and required by the American public.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: On behalf of the millions of Americans who rely on public transportation every day, the 435,000 frontline workers who operate and maintain those systems, and the public transportation agencies that serve communities across America, we urge you to include at least $32 billion in funding for public transportation in the next COVID-19 emergency response bill.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: As Congress continues to negotiate the terms of its next COVID-19 relief package, we call on you to include emergency supplemental funding to preserve Amtrak, the critical services it provides, and the livelihoods of its employees. Similar to other modes of passenger transportation, Amtrak has seen ridership fall as much as 95% on certain routes over the course of the pandemic. In response, Congress wisely provided critical financial assistance to the carrier through the CARES Act.

Dear Senator: On behalf of the undersigned labor organizations representing aviation employees, we urge you to include a clean extension of the airline Payroll Support Program (PSP) in the next phase of COVID-19 relief legislation.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the undersigned labor organizations, we urge you to sign the bipartisan letter being led by Reps. Peter DeFazio, Brian Fitzpatrick, Rick Larsen, John Katko, Sharice Davids, Karen Bass, and Rodney Davis. The letter asks House and Senate leadership to include an extension of the airline Payroll Support Program (PSP) in the next COVID-19 response legislation passed by Congress.

Dear Representative: As you know, today, the House of Representatives will begin floor consideration of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) strongly urges you to vote yes on final passage of this monumental investment in America’s infrastructure.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy and Leader Schumer: On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of aviation professionals that we collectively represent, we appreciate your efforts to help keep the airline industry afloat during the healthcare and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act saved jobs through the Payroll Support Program (PSP) that allocated $32 billion in payroll grants to commercial airlines and airline contractors exclusively “for the continuation of employee wages, salaries, and benefits.” This critical legislation has kept hundreds of thousands of airline workers employed and covered under their healthcare plans during the pandemic. This aid has sustained an industry of national importance, helped our economy, and preserved our communities’ connectivity to the national and global economy.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I strongly urge you to vote in favor of H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act as it is considered today in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.