The subcommittee meeting will come to order. I want to thank everybody for coming. Ive got a fairly short statement that i will read and then i will turn to senator coons. Were obviously convening under different circumstances than our previous meeting. Were following the guidance of the cdc and the office of attending physician, so were spaced further apart. Our staff is reduced, but were grateful for all of them. The general public is watching online rather than filling up the room. So our hearing today will look a little different. I think we can all agree that the capitol feels a little different, the halls of congress feel a little different. Small businesses if theyre allowed to open at all are operating under very different circumstances. American homes have become classrooms and offices for millions of american families. And at least for a while American Life as we know it has changed. Nonetheless access or inaccess to Broadband Internet services especially in rural areas has b
Industries association. Sen. Wicker all right, we will begin, and we appreciate people working with us on this partially remote, and partially in person hearing on a very important topic. The covid 19 pandemic has affected the normal operation of every Public Institution in our country. Including, as you can see, the legislative branch. I thank my colleagues and witnesses per for participating in todays hearing, which is the first of many covid19related oversight hearings that this committee will conduct. We will accomplish the business in accordance with the guidelines established by the rules committee, and in consultation with the office of the attending physician. And i want to thank my colleague and Ranking Member, senator cantwell, for her cooperation in this regard, and for all of our staff. The committee today convenes to discuss the state of the Aviation Industry. Witnesses, which are limited in number by the guidance we received from the senate, include nic calio, president a
And i want to thank my colleague and Ranking Member, senator cantwell, for her cooperation in this regard, and for all of our staff. Convenes toe today discuss the state of the Aviation Industry. Witnesses, which are limited in number by the guidance we received from the senate, include nic calio, president and chief executive officer of airlines for america, todd president and chief executive officer of the American Association of airport effectives, eric fanning, president of the chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries association, and remotely, dr. Hilary godwin, dean of school of Public Health university of washington. No part of the American Economy has escaped the impact of the covid 19 pandemic. The air and transportation sector has suffered a particularly painful blow, one intensified by Global Travel resections and stay at home orders, Domestic Travel has declined over 95 compared to last year. Flying with 12 passengers on average. Half of the u. S. Passenger aircr
Country and the world that he is possibly rejecting the social distancing and stay at home quarantines that every Health Professional and Infectious Disease scientist has told us would save us and our hospitals from total catastrophe. And why why would the president reject these potentially lifesaving recommendations you may ask because its the economy stupid yes like all good tinpot weakling wanna be tough guy leaders trump and a host of others on capitol hill and wall d street are suddenly sounding a new call to arms that we must sacrifice our elderly and our own personal wealth so that we can save their oso precious economy here is Lieutenant Governor out of texas dan patrick telling fox news as Tucker Carlson that he and other Older Americans are ready to literally fall d d on the coronavirus sword take a listen that we cant lose our whole country we were having an economic collapse im also a Small Businessman i understand it and i talk with Business People all the time tucker and
A listen that we cant lose our whole country we were having an economic collapse im also a Small Businessman i understand it and i talk with Business People all d the time tucker and and so just my heart is lifted tonight by what i heard the president say basically saying. This disease could take your life but thats not the scariest thing to you theres something that would be worse than dying. Yeah. But dont be fooled my friend those are the words of my self sacrificing brave man those are the words of a zealot a cultist if you will as former f. B. I. Special agent ali soufan tweeted in response i dealt with suicidal cults before i encountered people who are willing to die for their faith ideology race except for but i have never encountered anyone who is willing to die for someone elses for a one k. This is all new level of craziness so as our leaders appear to be seriously considering once again to put profits over people as they try to convince you and i to make the ultimate sacrifi