WHO13: Iowa Bus Company Calls on Congress to Aid Industry in Pandemic Recovery
Iowa Bus Company Calls on Congress to Aid Industry in Pandemic Recovery
WHO13
Stephanie Johnson
February 8, 2022
The pandemic has taken a toll on the bus industry. Since the start of the pandemic, many companies have laid off workers or shut down, and now industry leaders are calling on Congress for help.
“We’re still devastated. We’re still trying to climb out of this, and we need some help from Congress,” said CIT Signature Transportation Sales Director Kim Grzywacz.
CIT Signature Transportation has been in business for more than 30 years. It has provided charters for schools, tourism, the military and more, but Grzywacz says business trends have changed.
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“These are companies that have always been very independent, privately owned. They’re small businesses. They don’t want government in their business, but they need a bridge to get them through,” said American Bus Association President and CEO Peter Pantuso.
Initially, Congress gave $2 billion in grants through the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation program, but that was not enough. Pantuso says the industry wants Congress to provide $6 billion to help companies get out of the wrong place.
“A lot of it (money) goes for workers to get people back to work and get the drivers back in the seat so that these buses can roll again and get back to business,” said Pantuso.
