Congressman Cohen Votes for COVID Relief for Transportation Workers and Communities

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, participated in a daylong markup to consider legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation directive included in section 2001 of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2021, S. Con. Res. 5. The proposal includes nearly $100 billion to support transportation workers and communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Congressman Cohen voted for the measure in Committee this evening. The funding includes $49.3 million for Memphis International Airport and $32 million for the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA).

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"I am proud to support this badly needed relief that will keep our country moving and also supports millions of jobs, directly and indirectly, strengthening our communities. Transportation has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this proposal will help to avoid more service cuts, more layoffs and further declines in ridership. I am particularly pleased to see the funding for MATA and our airport, both of which have been significantly affected by the pandemic. This measure provides a level of funding that keeps our planes in the air but, as importantly, keeps the trains and buses running to deliver essential workers to and from their jobs."

Additionally, the proposal provides $1.5 billion to sustain service on Amtrak's passenger rail network. It requires Amtrak to reinstate the daily long-distance service that was slashed in 2020 and to bring back the rail workers who were furloughed due to the pandemic.

The measure now moves to the Budget Committee for further action.