Reuters By David Shepardson February 4, 2021 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Reuters on Thursday there are “very active” conversations between the White House, Congress and stakeholders about including assistance to the struggling transportation sector, which has sought more than $130 billion in a COVID-19 relief bill. President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion proposal includes only $20 billion for public transit systems. Airline unions are seeking $15 billion in payroll assistance while bus and ferry companies want $40 billion, state transportation departments have asked for $18 billion, Amtrak wants $1.5 billion, airports want $17 billion and public transit has asked for $39.3 billion. “They should be all taken seriously because this is about making sure we get the transportation sector back on its feet,” Buttigieg said in a phone interview. “Just about everybody needs help getting back to pre-COVID levels.” Buttigieg referred to Biden’s $20 billion transit proposal as the “initial conversations but those conversations are ongoing because we do want to make sure we’re supporting a robust return for the sector and supporting workers.”
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