Alcee Hastings: “I consider the airline industry to be the linchpin of our way of life in America. It is the fuel that provides the…”

“I consider the airline industry to be the linchpin of our way of life in America. It is the fuel that provides the engine for our economy here and worldwide. A safe, secure, stable industry is all of our objectives as policymakers. On Tuesday, airlines were grounded as a matter of defense. On Wednesday, workers living from paycheck to paycheck were driven into the ground. We have a responsibility in a bipartisan manner to protect airplanes and to protect people. I can assure my colleagues that all of us know that in the past week nearly 100,000 airline employees have been laid off as a result of the terrorist attacks. In the coming days, weeks, and months it is almost certain that the number of layoffs in the airline industry, as well as the industries directly and indirectly affected by airline travel, will drastically increase by thousands. Analysts point out that the airline industry has a high multiplier effect. For every 100 jobs created by the airline industry, an additional 250 jobs are created by those industries who service the airline. In turn, as many as 250,000 workers may be on the brink of losing their jobs as a result of the layoffs of just the past week. The human dimension means domestic violence will increase. It means that crime will increase. It means that child abuse will increase.”