FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2020
Contact: Travis Reuther, treuther@twu.org
The TWU Applauds Passage of $1.5T House Surface Transportation Bill
INVEST in America Act provides essential worker protections in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
Washington, D.C. – The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) applauds the House passage of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act (H.R. 2) and urges the Senate to support this legislation without weakening worker protections.
The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on July 1st, provides $1.5 trillion in much-needed infrastructure spending and worker protections as the nation’s economy struggles to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
H.R. 2 includes numerous pro-worker provisions that will directly support TWU members and their families. Among these are safeguards for transit workers as new technologies are introduced, worker representation on Amtrak’s Board of Directors, improved measures to prevent assaults on bus and train operators, and a prohibition on federal funds being used to replace existing transit service with autonomous vehicles.
By committing substantial funding for public transit and rail infrastructure, the INVEST in America Act will help rebuild our nation’s transportation systems while creating good jobs and protecting working people.
“Transport workers have been hit incredibly hard by COVID-19, but have continued showing up to do critical work. At great risk to ourselves and our families, we have worked around the clock to transport essential workers to their workplaces,” said TWU President John Samuelsen. “The TWU believes that all Americans should have access to safe, efficient, and affordable transportation systems. But now more than ever, we cannot achieve that goal without first ensuring that transport jobs are good jobs and that workers have the protections and opportunities that they deserve. The INVEST in America Act is a step in that direction and the Senate should immediately pass this bill to truly support our essential workers.”
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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.