Letter to Hon. Gary Peters, Chairman of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Hon. Rob Portman, Ranking Member of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee - Warner, Rubio, Cornyn Request Action to Secure Retirement Benefits for Air America Employees

Letter

Dear Chairman Peters and Ranking Member Portman:

We respectfully request that the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs consider and report S. 407, the Air America Act of 2021, to the full Senate as soon as possible.

The bill, which was first introduced last Congress, would ensure the brave employees of Air America receive the retirement benefits they have earned. As you may be aware, Air America was a government-owned corporation that conducted covert operations during the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War and operated under the direct policy control of the White House, Department of Defense, and the Department of State while under the management of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The fight to ensure Air America employees receive the benefits they have earned is not a partisan issue, nor is it a new issue. Legislation to provide benefits to Air America employees was first introduced by then Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in 2005. The bill currently has 29 bipartisan cosponsors, including five members of your committee from both sides of the aisle. Over the last 16 years, the Office of Personnel Management, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the CIA and the Director of National Intelligence have all concluded that Congressional action is required. It is time for Congress to act.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to consider and report this important bill to the full Senate as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

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