[inaudible conversations] this meeting is called to order. Welcome to the markup of the fiscal year 2021 funding act for the department of Homeland Security. Id like to begin by thanking Ranking Member fleischman for his collaboration in putting the bill before us this morning. There are, of course, areas of disagreement. Almost entirely in the immigration area. I do believe, however, that most of our bill represents a bipartisan agreement, but i dont want to minimize the disagreements on immigration, they are significant and they are important. Before discussing the bill, i would like to acknowledge the departments personnel who work on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Many have contracted the virus and sadly several have lost their lives to it. We owe them and their families our sincere gratitude. I also want to recognize the pandemics impact on migrants, particularly those continuously held in detention facilities. Many have also contracted the virus and sadly, some have
And airports. This is an hour and a half. Welcome to todays hearing on support for healthy air travel. Air travel plays a Critical Role in business, commerce, education, travel, and tourism. We take for granted that we can travel great distances by air. That weredestinations once reserved for imagination. Air travel moved from our imagination to a real audi reality that has changed the way we with each other. Our dependence will only continue to grow. Global air travel will nearly double. As with many other industries, the pandemic has dramatically impacted commercial air travel. In the u. S. Alone, Passenger Air travel was down 96 . Worldwide, the air travel industry is projected to use more than lose more than three hunter billion dollars in operating revenues this year. Shiftpple effect of this goes well beyond the airline. Full recovery requires ensuring safety and reestablishing the confidence as we continue to face the risk of covid19. These are positive steps, but are they enoug
The lack of federal leadership and interagency coordination has been this disappointing to all of us. We protect our frontline aviation workers and our passengers if this is not there . That is why chairman thompson and i recently sent a letter to the leadership of the Transportation Committee to the heads of dhs and dot calling for an Interagency Task force. I am very concerned about the different requirements for temperature checks, health , a lot of different requirements and confusion. Is not good for the traveling public. It creates risks for passengers and aviation workers. We have to follow and trust the expectation. Our decisions will ultimately affect millions of travelers. Social distancing measures were most visible when stayathome orders were issued across the country. They have been credited with helping slow this virus. Areal distancing measures visible at security checkpoints and boarding gates. We have seen aircraft for love unmasked passengers. They have been forced to
Welcome to todays hearing on support for healthy air travel. Air travel plays a Critical Role in business, commerce, education, travel, and tourism. We take for granted that we can travel great distances by air. That weredestinations once reserved for imagination. Air travel moved from our imagination to a real audi reality that has changed the way we with each other. Our dependence will only continue to grow. Global air travel will nearly double. As with many other industries, the pandemic has dramatically impacted commercial air travel. In the u. S. Alone, Passenger Air travel was down 96 . Worldwide, the air travel industry is projected to use more than lose more than three hunter billion dollars in operating revenues this year. Shiftpple effect of this goes well beyond the airline. Full recovery requires ensuring safety and reestablishing the confidence as we continue to face the risk of covid19. These are positive steps, but are they enough to ensure safety and reestablish trust .
Long as they are present in the hearings to be counted and members are responsible for your own microphone so please keep your microphones muted unless you are speaking. Finally, if they wish to submit documents for the record, please email them to the Committee Clerk whose email address was circulated prior to the hearing and thank you all for joining us. So good morning everyone and welcome to todays remote hearing on our support healthy air travel, to support healthy air travel in the covid19 era and beyond. I like to welcome our witnesses and thank you all for being here. Marshall air travel is an essential part of the fabric of our society and economy. It employs a Critical Role in business, commerce, education, travel and tourism. We take for granted that we can now easily travel vast distances by air and reach destinations that were once reserved for imagination. And just over a century, air travel moved from our imagination to a reality that has changed the way we interact with