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WASHINGTON – Today the Department of Transportation opened the application process for the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) Program. Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) encourages Kansas aviation manufacturers of all sizes to apply for this federal COVID-19 relief program he championed in Congress. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. ET on July 13, 2021.

"Here in the Air Capital of the World, we know the incredible impact COVID-19 and forced shutdowns had on the aviation manufacturing industry," said Rep. Estes. "That's why I introduced this bipartisan legislation last year to ease the burden on manufacturers, assist the many employees we have here in south central Kansas, and maintain our skilled workforce in the region."

Application details and information are available online at transportation.gov/AMJP.

Rep. Estes introduced this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington) in 2020 and helped reintroduce it in this Congress. The corresponding bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas). The program allows aviation manufacturers to designate 25% of their workforce at risk of furlough due to COVID-19 to be eligible for 50% of their total compensation covered by the Department of Transportation. The employer will cover the remaining 50%.

The Secretary of Transportation oversees the program operations. The AMJP Program also includes several safeguards, including restrictions on employers circumventing collective bargaining agreements, moving jobs assisted by the program out of the United States, using the program for stock buybacks or paying out dividends, or being covered under the "at risk" employee definition. The program also allows companies to recall or rehire workers. The program goes through April 2023, given the unknown nature of the pandemic's impact on aviation manufacturing companies. Despite loan options within the CARES Act, many aviation companies did not take advantage of them because of certain restrictions.