Co-chair of bipartisan group of US lawmakers says airlines should get grants, not loans

The co-chairman of a centrist bipartisan group of US House lawmakers known as the “Problem Solvers”, Representative Josh Gottheimer, said Thursday US airlines should get grants, not loans as part of coronavirus aid. “I think they should get grants, given that we need to keep airlines operating,” Gottheimer, a Democrat, said in a Zoom call with local leaders from his district. Gottheimer also expressed concerns about “piecemeal” legislation just to help the struggling airline sector or others after the Trump administration walked away from talks over a larger COVID-19 stimulus package. “You risk leaving pieces out that need to get done,” Gottheimer said. He urged the Trump administration to return to the negotiating table to discuss a comprehensive package of coronavirus relief. “Please don’t quit on the American people, let’s get this done.”<br/>