---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9131"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9131"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9131"
units:
  - "Chapter 116 — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization (cares Act)"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy"
  - "Part F — Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection"
---

# §9131. Definitions


In this part:

- (1) **Eligible employee group—** The term “eligible employee group” means the portion of an [employer](#4)’s United States workforce that—
  - (A) does not exceed 25 percent of the [employer](#4)’s total United States workforce as of April 1, 2020; and
  - (B) contains only [employees](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) with a [total compensation level](#8) of $200,000 or less per year; and
  - (C) is engaged in aviation manufacturing activities and services, or maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities and services.
- (2) **Aviation manufacturing company—** The term “aviation manufacturing company” means a corporation, firm, or other business entity—
  - (A) that—
    - (i) actively manufactures an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or a component, part, or systems of an aircraft or aircraft engine under a Federal Aviation [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) production approval;
    - (ii) holds a certificate issued under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft, aircraft engines, components, or propellers; or
    - (iii) operates a process certified to SAE AS9100 related to the design, development, or provision of an aviation product or service, including a part, component, or assembly;
  - (B) which—
    - (i) is established, created, or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States; and
    - (ii) has significant operations in, and a majority of its [employees](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) engaged in aviation manufacturing activities and services, or maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities and services based in the United States;
  - (C) which has involuntarily furloughed or laid off at least 10 percent of its workforce in 2020 as compared to 2019 or has experienced at least a 15 percent decline in 2020 revenues as compared to 2019;
  - (D) that, as supported by sworn financial statements or other appropriate data, has identified the [eligible employee group](#1) and the amount of [total compensation level](#8) for the [eligible employee group](#1);
  - (E) that agrees to provide [private contributions](#5) and maintain the [total compensation level](#8) for the [eligible employee group](#1) for the duration of an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) under this part;
  - (F) that agrees to provide immediate notice and justification to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) of involuntary furloughs or layoffs exceeding 10 percent of the workforce that is not included in an [eligible employee group](#1) for the duration of an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) and receipt of [public contributions](#6) under this part;
  - (G) that has not conducted involuntary furloughs or reduced pay rates or benefits for the [eligible employee group](#1), subject to the [employer](#4)’s right to discipline or terminate an [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) in accordance with [employer](#4) policy, between the date of application and the date on which such a corporation, firm, or other business entity enters into an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) with the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) under this part; and
  - (H) that—
    - (i) in the case of a corporation, firm, or other business entity including any parent company or subsidiary of such a corporation, firm, or other business entity, that holds any type or production certificate or similar authorization issued under [section 44704 of title 49](/usc/49/44704.md), United States Code, with respect to a transport-category airplane covered under part 25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, certificated with a passenger seating capacity of 50 or more, agrees to refrain from conducting involuntary layoffs or furloughs, or reducing pay rates and benefits, for the [eligible employee group](#1), subject to the [employer](#4)’s right to discipline or terminate an [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) in accordance with [employer](#4) policy from the date of [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) until September 30, 2021, or the duration of the [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) and receipt of [public contributions](#6) under this part, whichever period ends later; or
    - (ii) in the case of corporation, firm, or other business entity not specified under subparagraph (i), agrees to refrain from conducting involuntary layoffs or furloughs, or reducing pay rates and benefits, for the [eligible employee group](#1), subject to the [employer](#4)’s right to discipline or terminate an [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) in accordance with [employer](#4) policy for the duration of the [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) and receipt of [public contributions](#6) under this part.
- (3) **Employee—** The term “[employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5)” has the meaning given that term in [section 203 of title 29](/usc/29/203.md).
- (4) **Employer—** The term “employer” means an [aviation manufacturing company](#2) that is an employer (as defined in [section 203 of title 29](/usc/29/203.md)).
- (5) **Private contribution—** The term “private contribution” means the contribution funded by the [employer](#4) under this part to maintain 50 percent of the [eligible employee group](#1)’s [total compensation level](#8), and combined with the [public contribution](#6), is sufficient to maintain the [total compensation level](#8) for the [eligible employee group](#1) as of April 1, 2020.
- (6) **Public contribution—** The term “public contribution” means the contribution funded by the Federal Government under this part to provide 50 percent of the eligible [employees](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) group’s [total compensation level](#8), and combined with the [private contribution](#5), is sufficient to maintain the [total compensation level](#8) for those in the [eligible employee group](#1) as of April 1, 2020.
- (7) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9)” means the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) of Transportation.
- (8) **Total compensation level—** The term “total compensation level” means the level of total base compensation and benefits being provided to an [eligible employee group](#1) [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5), excluding overtime and premium pay, and excluding any Federal, [State](/usc/15/9041.md?p=10), or local payroll taxes paid, as of April 1, 2020.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–2, title VII, § 7201, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 101.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and not as part of the CARES Act which in part comprises this chapter.