---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9071"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9071"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9071"
units:
  - "Chapter 116 — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization (cares Act)"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy"
  - "Part B — Air Carrier Worker Support"
---

# §9071. Definitions


Unless otherwise specified, the terms in [section 40102(a) of title 49](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a) shall apply to this part, except that—

- (1) the term “airline catering employee” means an [employee](#4) who performs [airline catering services](#2);
- (2) the term “airline catering services” means preparation, assembly, or both, of [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b), beverages, provisions and related supplies for delivery, and the delivery of such items, directly to aircraft or to a location on or near airport property for subsequent delivery to aircraft;
- (3) the term “contractor” means—
  - (A) a [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) that performs, under contract with a passenger [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) conducting operations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations—
    - (i) catering functions; or
    - (ii) functions on the property of an airport that are directly related to the air transportation of [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6), property, or mail, including but not limited to the loading and unloading of property on aircraft; assistance to passengers under part 382 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; security; airport ticketing and check-in functions; ground-handling of aircraft; or aircraft cleaning and sanitization functions and waste removal; or
  - (B) a subcontractor that performs such functions;
- (4) the term “employee” means an individual, other than a corporate officer, who is employed by an [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or a [contractor](#3);
- (5) the term “recall” means the dispatch of a notice by a [contractor](#3), via mail, courier, or electronic mail, to an involuntarily furloughed [employee](#4) notifying the [employee](#4) that—
  - (A) the [employee](#4) must, within a specified period of time that is not less than 14 days, elect either—
    - (i) to return to employment or bypass return to employment in accordance with an applicable collective bargaining [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) or, in the absence of a collective bargaining [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2), company policy; or
    - (ii) to permanently separate from employment with the [contractor](#3); and
  - (B) failure to respond within such time period specified will be deemed to be an election under [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#5-A-ii); and
- (6) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title IV, § 4111, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 497; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title IV, § 412(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2061.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pars. (5), (6). Pub. L. 116–260 added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).