FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2020
Contact: Travis Reuther, treuther@twu.org
26 Senators Sign onto TWU Letter Urging Significant Support for Public Transit
Safe and clean public transit is essential to our fight against COVID-19
Washington, D.C. – On July 8, 2020, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) led a group of 26 U.S. Senators who sent a letter urging Senate Leadership to prioritize $32 billion in emergency support for our nation’s public transit systems as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic over the coming year. The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) applauds this group for their commitment to our nation’s transportation systems.
Throughout the pandemic, transport workers have continued to perform the vital work of getting the nations’ healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers where they need to go. They have done so at great risk, both to themselves and their families. But their work has helped save thousands of lives and ensure that other essential workers can safely return to their families at the end of each day.
However, as the crisis worsens, lawmakers must recognize that our transit systems need immediate and significant support. $25 billion in assistance provided by the CARES Act in March was an important short-term measure, but it is clear now that more support will be required in the months ahead as farebox revenue and other funding streams show little sign of recovery.
“Without public transit, we have almost no hope of an effective recovery from the pandemic,” said TWU President John Samuelsen. “This support is necessary if we want to keep our transit systems operational at a time when they most critical. Not only would $32 billion go directly toward helping the frontline transit workers that have already risked so much – it will provide the foundation that we need to fight the virus and begin our economic recovery.”
Click HERE to read the full letter.
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The Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, represents more than 151,000 workers in the airline, railroad, transit, universities, utilities and services sectors.