Jon L. Christensen: “I rise in support of the Air Transportation System Stabilization Act. While it doesn't include everything I would have…”

“I rise in support of the Air Transportation System Stabilization Act. While it doesn't include everything I would have liked to have included in the bill, I nonetheless support its passage because I strongly agree that without immediate government financial support, many U.S. airlines will go bankrupt as a result of the September 11th attack. As someone who represents a district, which is singularly dependent upon tourism to fuel our local economy, the lack of airline service has been devastating to us. As of September 18, 2001, after four days of virtually no check-ins and a severe drop in hotel room occupancy because of last week's terrorist attacks, layoffs and dramatic cutbacks have already hit hotels in the Virgin Islands. I believe Mr. Speaker that if we assist the airlines and keep the planes flying much of our economy will recover. We cannot afford to do otherwise or we will all suffer even more. As a member of the steering committee of the Travel and Tourism Caucus, I am particularly aware of the importance of the airline industry to tourism and to our overall economy. Like it or not, air transportation is the engine that drives our nation's economy and it is especially important if our nation is to return to work and to normalcy. The staggering losses on Wall Street we saw this week illustrates the need for us to act and to act now. We must also help those workers that will be and have been displaced because of last week's attack.”