CEO DATELINE - Buses rally at nation's capital for federal aid
CEO DATELINE - Buses rally at nation's capital for federal aid
- May 13, 2020 |
- Walt Williams
Hundreds of buses took to the streets of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday as part of a "rolling rally" to advocate for $15 billion in federal aid for the besieged motorcoach industry.
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More than 800 buses were expected to take part in the rally, which is being organized by the American Bus Association and United Motorcoach Association, Newsweek reported. The buses gathered at Audi Stadium before driving Capitol Hill and circling the National Mall.
Bus companies are asking federal lawmakers for $15 billion to ease losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ABA shared a video of on its Twitter feed of the convoy on its way to D.C., with signs on the sides of buses reading "100,000 jobs lost, $8 billion lost revenue" and "36 cars removed from the road by this motorcoach."
"We have a lot of advocates from every state in the country in DC, and we're expecting them to continue to raise their voices," ABA CEO Peter Pantuso said in a statement. "The rally is to help amplify their voices, and help Congress and the White House understand how vital the motorcoach industry is to the United States."
An economic stimulus package being pushed by House Democrats—the HEROES Act—will make up to $4 billion in grants available for transit companies. Pantuso said the money in the bill for rural intercity bus providers was a good start, "but it's not enough to save jobs and an industry that provides essential and diverse services to every walk of life in America."
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