carrier receiving financial assistance under section 101 shall take such action as is necessary to ensure that, with respect to the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) related to the pandemic of the coronavirus COVID–19— (1) if an employee of such air carrier was provided health insurance benefits or other welfare benefits described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1002(1) ) from the air carrier prior to such emergency, such employee shall retain such benefits at an equivalent rate for the duration of such emergency