8.10.20 – Congress: Negotiate A Deal For All Americans

Monday, August 10, 2020

Congress: Negotiate a Deal for All Americans

Over the past two weeks, leaders from the House, Senate, and White House have participated in ongoing negotiations for the next COVID-19 relief package. Having not yet struck a deal, on Saturday, President Trump issued four executive orders that would extend federal unemployment benefits, defer payroll taxes, halt evictions and foreclosures, and pause student loan payments. This is unprecedented territory, and it is unclear whether these orders will hold up constitutionally. However, we know that the executive actions left out numerous important issues, including the extension of the aviation Payroll Support Program (PSP) for which we have been fighting. It is not clear what happens next with the negotiations between Congressional leaders and the White House, but we cannot let these negotiations get derailed. Both sides must return to the table so that Congress can pass an extension of the PSP.

Your APFA Government Affairs Department is tracking these extraordinary events and urging both the White House and Congress to meet at the negotiating table this week to pass a relief bill. This is how we can extend the PSP and save our jobs through March 31, 2021.

But we cannot succeed without your help. Your Senators and members of Congress need to hear from you. Are they on your speed dial yet? Your voice and your potential vote are powerful—tell your elected officials that a clean, six-month extension of PSP must be included in the stimulus bill and that the bill must be passed this week.

Phone lines have been busy—leave a message and continue calling until you get through to someone. We have been fighting so hard, and we cannot stop now.

Each member of Congress has multiple offices, both in DC and in your home state. You can also use the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) to be connected to your Representatives. Tell them:

Hi, I am an American Airlines Flight Attendant, an APFA Union member, and your constituent. I am calling to ask you to take action to protect my job and hundreds of thousands of other good US aviation jobs. Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate support an extension of the CARES Act aviation Payroll Support Program. This program has been my lifeline, but if Congress does not extend it now, hundreds of thousands of aviation workers like me will lose their jobs in October.

Timing is critical. This has to be negotiated and passed in August to avoid the October layoffs. Please help ensure negotiations continue so that we can protect our aviation jobs, extend the restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation, and maintain essential air service to all of our communities.

The entire US aviation community is standing together to support a clean extension of the Payroll Support Program, but it must be passed now to save jobs in October.

Write and Call Congress Here

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In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]