Lawmakers seek bolstered support for air travel safety, tourism recovery

A group of lawmakers recently encouraged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance air travel safety and support the nation’s travel and tourism industry recovery.

Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in forwarding correspondence to DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf regarding the matter.

The letter detailed dramatic job losses across the travel and tourism industry, including jobs related to air travel and tourism, airlines, airports, aerospace companies, and companies selling goods and services to the air transport chain.

“There needs to be a multi-layered approach to combat COVID-19, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) is on the frontlines when it comes to putting together safeguards for air travel,” the legislators wrote. “This makes DHS uniquely positioned to support and advance the recovery of our nation’s travel and tourism industry, along with the restaurant and hospitality businesses that rely on it.”

The lawmakers maintain as long as air travel remains depressed, the hospitality and affiliated industries will not be able to recover economically and will impact big and small businesses, workers, and state and local governments in need of additional tax revenue.

“Your actions regarding air travel will have tangible impacts for this entire nation, and we urge you to make air travel as safe, expedient, and efficient as possible,” the legislators concluded.