Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 1319. 
 
"In the middle of the night, the House passed the Biden-Pelosi bailout bill that will add nearly $2 trillion to the national debt while only containing 9% of real COVID-19 relief," said Rep. Estes. "Most of the bill is partisan bailouts for states and pensions and other non-COVID-related wish list items, which will take away from the few positive aspects like the inclusion of my bipartisan Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act that will actually help out-of-work Kansans. With cases down 77% over the last six weeks, Congress should instead focus on crushing the virus and reopening our economy." 
 
Rep. Estes first introduced the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act in 2020 with Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington) after much bipartisan negotiation to benefit workers in south central Kansas. In this Congress, Rep. Larsen introduced the bill with Rep. Estes as the lead Republican. H.R. 1319 includes the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act's language, which will allow aviation manufacturing employees that have been furloughed to remain connected with their company and maintain benefits rather than going on unemployment. The Secretary of Transportation will oversee the program which contains several safeguards, including restrictions on circumventing collective bargaining agreements or moving jobs assisted by the program out of the United States. The legislation prevents employers from using the program for stock buybacks or paying out dividends but instead allows companies to recall or rehire workers.

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.