---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9091"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9091"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9091"
units:
  - "Chapter 116 — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization (cares Act)"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy"
  - "Part C — Airline Worker Support Extension"
---

# §9091. Definitions


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

- (1) the term “catering functions” 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;
- (2) 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](#1); 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;
- (3) 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](#2);
- (4) the term “recall” means the dispatch of a notice by a passenger [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or a [contractor](#2), via mail, courier, or electronic mail, to an involuntarily furloughed [employee](#3) notifying the [employee](#3) that—
  - (A) the [employee](#3) must, within a specified period of time, 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 passenger [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or [contractor](#2); and
  - (B) failure to respond within such time period specified shall be considered an election under [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#4-A-ii);
- (5) the term “returning employee” means an involuntarily furloughed [employee](#3) who has elected to return to employment pursuant to a [recall](#4) notice; and
- (6) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title IV, § 401, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2052.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This part, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle A (§§ 401–412) of title IV of div. N of Pub. L. 116–260, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2052, which enacted this part and amended sections 9041, 9071, and 9074 of this title. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and not as part of the CARES Act which in part comprises this chapter.