FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 202/628-9262
Momentum Building on Capitol Hill;
Bipartisan Concern over Threats to National and Economic Security
Washington, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), on the Senate Appropriations Committee today prohibiting the Bush administration, through October 1 of this year, from carrying out its plan to allow foreign interests to control U.S. airlines:
“Today’s vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee is yet another indication of the growing bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill to allowing foreign interests to control U.S. airlines.
“Momentum continues to grow in Congress to stop this misguided proposal which threatens our homeland security and the millions of jobs associated with our nation’s aviation industry. Last month the House Appropriations Committee directed the Administration to take no action for 120 days. Also, 171 House members have co-sponsored legislation (H.R. 4542) to put a moratorium on the Bush administration’s unpopular plan.
“It is increasingly clear that both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are deeply troubled by the implications of allowing foreign interests to decide whether or not a U.S. airline helps transport U.S. troops and equipment under the CRAF program in time of war, what country our airlines purchase their aircraft from, and whether more jobs and aircraft maintenance are outsourced overseas where safety and security standards may be lax. “We thank Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) for their leadership, and call upon the Bush administration to heed the bipartisan concerns of Congress and withdraw this fundamentally flawed proposal.”
TTD represents 30 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit ttd.org.
Senate Panel Blocks Bush Plan Allowing Foreign Control of U.S. Airlines