Motorcoach, School Bus Industries Question Why the CERTS Act is Being Ignored

The American Bus Association (ABA), United Motorcoach Association (UMA), National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) are asking why the bi-partisan Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act (S 4150/HR 7642) is being ignored as discussions continue on Capitol Hill on the next stimulus package.

The coalition released the following statement:

“The numbers speak for themselves on the level of support the CERTS Act has received in both chambers of Congress: 59 Senators and 263 Representatives (60%) bi-partisan co-sponsors. We have been begging and pleading with Congressional leaders, especially Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and the White House, for more than seven months to provide our industries a lifeline to save our essential employees and our businesses. These businesses and workers are critical to the nation’s transportation system. They serve students, seniors, minorities, and other travelers and commuters, as well as the military and they move people out of harm’s way during wildfires and hurricanes. They deserve better. We need Congress to come together and give true relief to all the modes of transportation that serves everyone and keeps the American economy moving forward during this pandemic."

The House version of the CERTS Act is the most bi-partisan and supported relief bill in today:

• 176 CERTS co-sponsors are Democrats, which is 66% of total co-sponsors and 75% of the entire Democratic Caucus.  

o             Of the 176 Democrat co-sponsors, 88 (50%) are Committee or Subcommittee Chairs.

o             Of the 130 Committee and Subcommittee Chairs of Standing and Select Committees, 88 (67%) are CERTS cosponsors. 

o             Of the 23 Standing and Select Committee Chairs, 16 (69%) co-sponsored CERTS.

o             Of 12 Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs, eight (66%) are CERTS co-sponsors.

• The CERTS Act has 37 House co-sponsors from California, which is 69% of their delegation

The Senate version of the CERTS Act is also the most bi-partisan and supported relief bill in today:

• 59 co-sponsors (59% of entire Senate)
• 36 (59%) co-sponsors are Democrats, which represents 77% of all Senate Democrats
• 23 (38%) co-sponsors are Republicans, which represents 43% of all Senate Republicans 
• Of the 59 co-sponsors, all but two are Chairs, Subcommittee Chairs, Ranking Members, or Ranking Subcommittee Members of Standing and Select Committees
• 39 states are represented on this bill with either one or both Senators supporting

The U.S. private motorcoach, school bus and domestic passenger vessel industries have collectively furloughed or laid off an estimated 308,000 employee jobs over the last eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally posted on Metro Magazine