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Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ninth District, IL
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Press Release 
SEPTEMBER 21, 2001
 
SCHAKOWSKY SAYS AIRLINE BAILOUT PACKAGE 
“COMPLETELY IGNORES THE HEROES IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY WHO WERE AND ARE MOST DEEPLY AND PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATROCITIES”
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) tonight expressed disappointment that the House approved a taxpayer funded airline bailout package that ignores the workers who are most greatly affected by the tragedies of September 11.  Schakowsky said that H.R.2926 includes billions of dollars for the airlines and salary protections for the top executives, while failing to offer a helping hand to the hundred of thousands of flight attendants, the baggage handlers, the mechanics and the ticket agents.

“Every single member of this body and every person in this country understands fully that a functioning airline industry is vital to the functioning of our country.  Yet I opposed this legislation because remarkably this bill completely ignores the heroes in the airline industry who were and are most deeply and personally affected by the September 11 atrocities.  I am speaking of the pilots, the flight attendants, the baggage handlers, the mechanics, the ticket agents - the workers who are now losing their jobs as a result of the September 11 attacks. You can look through every line of every page of this bill and you won’t find a single mention of them.,” Schakowsky said.

She added, “Those airline executives who earn over $300,000 will find a whole section of this bill devoted to them, however.  It says that they can continue earning the same amount they did in year 2000, compensation amounting to $35 million for one CEO, $16 million for another, and $12 million for a third.  And if those CEO’s decide they’ve had enough, this bill says their golden parachute can be twice that amount. But not a word about the thousands of airline industry workers who’ve already lost their jobs in the past week and the up to 100,000 thousand more who will soon be unemployed.”  

Schakowsky pointed to the statement released by the Association of Flight Attendants, which stated, “It’s sad how quickly those who sacrifice to make our great country work, even in these times of tragedy, get left out when corporations go asking for taxpayer money.”  

Schakowsky said, “These workers are going to lose their jobs and this bill says nothing about unemployment benefits, job training or health benefits.” 

She concluded, “I am ready to help the airline industry - but not just a part of it.   Those who say they will help the workers next week or the week after must be asked, Why wait?  Why couldn’t they be part of this package?  Are they less deserving, less worthy, less needy?”

 
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