Albert Russell Wynn: “our Nation's airlines do need our help. They are indeed in a crisis situation. I know in my own State of Maryland, U.S.…”

“our Nation's airlines do need our help. They are indeed in a crisis situation. I know in my own State of Maryland, U.S. Airways, which has a major economic impact, is in real trouble. I think there is a large consensus that we ought to help them and we ought to provide the $15 billion that they will need to keep flying. But there is another question that needs to be asked that the American people need to keep at the forefront of their minds during these grim times, and that is simply this: What about the workers? What about the workers? Make no mistake. Even with this $15 billion infusion, there will still be layoffs; there will still be dislocation. Many of us have said, in this bill we ought to deal with those problems. We ought to deal with the problem of extending unemployment compensation; we ought to deal with the problem of extending health care benefits; we ought to deal with the problem of job retraining. I believe in balance and fairness. We ought to help the industry; we ought to give the $15 billion. But it is not fair to ignore the employees, the workers, the clerks, the baggage handlers, the cooks, the mechanics, the people that keep the airplanes flying and say, well you wait until later.”