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Air America employees provided support to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Southeast Asia between 1950 and 1976, including rescuing the last Americans from the U.S. embassy in Saigon. The CIA memorialized their contributions at headquarters, including stars on the wall that honor Air Americans who lost their lives in China and Laos. Air America employees did not, however, receive full Federal retirement civil service benefits, given their ambiguous employee status at the time.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Air America Act of 2023 (S.3047) to provide awards for Air America employees, given they did not receive full Federal retirement civil service benefits. 

• “The brave men and women of Air America deserve an immense token of appreciation for their service to our nation. I am proud to lead this bipartisan bill to ensure our fellow Americans who honorably served our great nation receive the recognition they deserve.” – Senator Rubio
  
• “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to provide well-earned benefits and formally recognize the courage of Air Americans during the U.S. war effort in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. I hope the Senate will act quickly to do the right thing by those who courageously supported troops, rescued downed American pilots and sustained casualties in the line of duty.” – Senator Warner

• “Air America employees deserve to be fairly compensated for their service to the nation during the Vietnam War. This legislation would ensure those who worked at Air America, which was government-owned and managed by the Central Intelligence Agency, receive the federal retirement benefits they’re owed.” – Senator Cornyn

Joining Rubio and Warner in introducing this bill was Senator John Cornyn. 

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May 2021: Rubio, Warner, Cornyn Request Action to Secure Retirement Benefits for Air America Employees