---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9141"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9141"
heading: "Air transportation payroll support program extension"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9141"
units:
  - "Chapter 116 — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization (cares Act)"
  - "Subchapter III — Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Economy"
  - "Part G — Airlines"
---

# §9141. Air transportation payroll support program extension

- (a) **Definitions—** The definitions in [section 40102(a) of title 49](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a) shall apply with respect to terms used in this section, except that—
  - (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; 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 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](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5)” means an individual, other than a corporate officer, who is employed by an [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or a contractor;
  - (4) the term “eligible [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1)” means an [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) that—
    - (A) received financial assistance pursuant[^1] [section 9092(a)(1) of this title](/usc/15/9092.md?p=a-1);
    - (B) provides air transportation as of March 31, 2021;
    - (C) has not conducted involuntary furloughs or reduced pay rates or benefits between March 31, 2021, and the date on which the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) makes a certification to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) pursuant to [subparagraph (D)](#a-4-D); and
    - (D) certifies to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) that such [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) will—
      - (i) refrain from conducting involuntary furloughs or reducing pay rates or benefits until September 30, 2021, or the date on which assistance provided under this section is exhausted, whichever is later;
      - (ii) refrain from purchasing an [equity security](/usc/15/9041.md?p=6) of the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or the parent company of the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) that is listed on a [national securities exchange](/usc/15/9041.md?p=8) through September 30, 2022;
      - (iii) refrain from paying dividends, or making other capital distributions, with respect to common stock (or equivalent interest) of such [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) through September 30, 2022;
      - (iv) during the 2-year period beginning April 1, 2021, and ending April 1, 2023, refrain from paying—
        - (I) any officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) of the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) whose total compensation exceeded $425,000 in calendar year 2019 (other than an [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) whose compensation is determined through an existing collective bargaining [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) entered into prior to March 11, 2021)—
          - (aa) total compensation that exceeds, during any 12 consecutive months of such 2-year period, the total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) in calendar year 2019; or
          - (bb) severance pay or other benefits upon termination of employment with the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) which exceeds twice the maximum total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) in calendar year 2019; and
        - (II) any officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) of the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) whose total compensation exceeded $3,000,000 in calendar year 2019 during any 12 consecutive months of such period total compensation in excess of the sum of—
          - (aa) $3,000,000; and
          - (bb) 50 percent of the excess over $3,000,000 of the total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) in calendar year 2019.[^2]
  - (5) the term “eligible contractor” means a contractor that—
    - (A) received financial assistance pursuant to [section 9092(a)(2) of this title](/usc/15/9092.md?p=a-2);
    - (B) performs one or more of the functions described under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) as of March 31, 2021;
    - (C) has not conducted involuntary furloughs or reduced pay rates or benefits between March 31, 2021, and the date on which the contractor makes a certification to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) pursuant to [subparagraph (D)](#a-5-D); and
    - (D) certifies to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) that such contractor will—
      - (i) refrain from conducting involuntary furloughs or reducing pay rates or benefits until September 30, 2021, or the date on which assistance provided under this section is exhausted, whichever is later;
      - (ii) refrain from purchasing an [equity security](/usc/15/9041.md?p=6) of the contractor or the parent company of the contractor that is listed on a [national securities exchange](/usc/15/9041.md?p=8) through September 30, 2022;
      - (iii) refrain from paying dividends, or making other capital distributions, with respect to common stock (or equivalent interest) of the contractor through September 30, 2022;
      - (iv) during the 2-year period beginning April 1, 2021, and ending April 1, 2023, refrain from paying—
        - (I) any officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) of the contractor whose total compensation exceeded $425,000 in calendar year 2019 (other than an [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) whose compensation is determined through an existing collective bargaining [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) entered into prior to March 11, 2021)—
          - (aa) total compensation that exceeds, during any 12 consecutive months of such 2-year period, the total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the contractor in calendar year 2019; or
          - (bb) severance pay or other benefits upon termination of employment with the contractor which exceeds twice the maximum total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the contractor in calendar year 2019; and
        - (II) any officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) of the contractor whose total compensation exceeded $3,000,000 in calendar year 2019 during any 12 consecutive months of such period total compensation in excess of the sum of—
          - (aa) $3,000,000; and
          - (bb) 50 percent of the excess over $3,000,000 of the total compensation received by the officer or [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) from the contractor in calendar year 2019.[^3]
  - (6) the term “[Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9)” means the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) of the Treasury.
- (b) **Payroll support grants—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall make available to eligible [air carriers](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) and eligible contractors, financial assistance exclusively for the continuation of payment of [employee](/usc/15/9041.md?p=5) wages, salaries, and benefits to—
    - (A) eligible [air carriers](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1), in an aggregate amount of $14,000,000,000; and
    - (B) eligible contractors, in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000,000.
  - (2) **Apportionments—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall apportion funds to eligible [air carriers](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) and eligible contractors in accordance with the requirements of this section not later than April 15, 2021.
    - (B) **Eligible air carriers—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall apportion funds made available under [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A) to each eligible [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) in the ratio that—
      - (i) the amount received by the [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) pursuant to [section 9093(a) of this title](/usc/15/9093.md?p=a) bears to
      - (ii) $15,000,000,000.
    - (C) **Eligible contractors—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall apportion, to each eligible contractor, an amount equal to the total amount such contractor received pursuant to [section 9093(a) of this title](/usc/15/9093.md?p=a).
  - (3) **In general—**
    - (A) **Forms; terms and conditions—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall provide financial assistance to an eligible [air carrier](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) or eligible contractor under this section in the same form and on the same terms and conditions as determined by pursuant to[^4] [section 9093(b)(1)(A) of this title](/usc/15/9093.md?p=b-1-A).
    - (B) **Procedures—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall publish streamlined and expedited procedures not later than 5 days after March 11, 2021, for eligible [air carriers](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) and eligible contractors to submit requests for financial assistance under this section.
    - (C) **Deadline for immediate payroll assistance—** Not later than 10 days after March 11, 2021, the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall make initial payments to [air carriers](/usc/15/9041.md?p=1) and contractors that submit requests for financial assistance approved by the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9).
  - (4) **Taxpayer protection—** The [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) shall receive financial instruments issued by recipients of financial assistance under this section in the same form and amount, and under the same terms and conditions, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) under [section 9098 of this title](/usc/15/9098.md).
  - (5) **Administrative expenses—** Of the amounts made available under [paragraph (1)(A)](#b-1-A), $10,000,000 shall be made available to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9041.md?p=9) for costs and administrative expenses associated with providing financial assistance under this section.
- (c) **Funding—** In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $15,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by “to”.
[^2]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
[^3]: So in original. The period probably should be “; and”.
[^4]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–2, title VII, § 7301, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 104.)

## 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.