Barbara Mikulski: “A also rise as a cosponsor of the Carnahan amendment to help those who are most hurt by the economic impact of the…”

“A also rise as a cosponsor of the Carnahan amendment to help those who are most hurt by the economic impact of the terrorist attacks of September: the unemployed airline and airplane manufacture workers. Thousands of American workers have lost their jobs during this economic downturn. These workers need our help. That's why we need to act quickly on a robust stimulus package targeted at workers. No workers have been hit as hard as those in the airline and aviation industry; 140,000 thousand of these workers have been laid off since the terrorist attacks of September 11. Unemployment is steadily rising. Last week the largest number of people in 9 years filed for unemployment, over 528,000 people. That's nearly the population of Baltimore City; 650,000 people live in Baltimore. These are the pilots, the flight attendants, the baggage handlers, the concessionaires, and the aircraft builders. These workers have: lost their paychecks, lost their health care and could lose their homes. They need help immediately, just as we've helped their former employers with a $15 billion stabilization package of grants and loan guarantees. I am confident that the airline industry and the U.S. economy will recover; But help is needed today. How would the Carnahan amendment help the airline workers?…”