Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday blasted House Republicans for blocking a standalone bill that would extend pandemic aid to airlines.
“Democrats offer legislation to save lives and livelihoods, only to be met by more Republican obstruction. Either Republicans are not serious about meeting the staggering health and economic challenge facing our nation, or they do not care,” the California Democrat said.
Republicans objected to a request by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, a Democrat from Oregon, for unanimous consent to pass his standalone bill that extends the Payroll Support Program for the airline industry.
Pelosi earlier on Friday had changed course and opened the door to standalone legislation to provide relief for airlines and called on the companies to hold off on furloughs.
More than 32,000 airline workers were furloughed Thursday as pandemic aid expired and Washington leaders failed to agree to additional relief.
American Airlines and United Airlines have sent furlough notices to over 32,000 workers. Alaska Airlines announced that over 500 jobs would be furloughed, according to local news.
The CARES Act enacted in March provided the airline industry $25 billion in aid as long as no workers were furloughed before Thursday. The airline executives have asked for an additional $25 billion in aid, which would be expected to help keep workers employed through March 2021.
