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New coalition of public & private sector leaders call on Congress to act on COVID-19 relief before election

Submitted

Wed, Sep 30th 2020 05:55 pm

COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition calls for ‘No Recess Without Relief,’ imploring Congress to find bipartisan solution to move stimulus package 

COVID RELIEF NOW, a new coalition of nearly 200 major public and private sector groups across the U.S., today called for “No Recess without Relief,” imploring Congress to not leave town for the 2020 elections without passing additional COVID-19 economic relief. It stated millions of jobs and survival of small businesses, as well as vital government services, are on the line.

The coalition stated that, if Congress fails to act, millions of employees will be furloughed or terminated; millions of unemployed Americans will lose their unemployment insurance pandemic benefits; hundreds of thousands of companies will be at risk of closing their doors forever; and the vast majority of state and local governments will have to curtail critical services in order to balance budgets due to a decline in tax revenue.

Below is the text of a letter signed by coalition members that was sent to Congress today.

“It’s time for Congress to put politics aside and prioritize the many businesses and employees in the hardest-hit industries. Millions of jobs and the livelihoods of people who have built their small business for decades are just withering away because Congress has done nothing. America’s hotel industry is on the brink of collapse. We can’t afford to let thousands of small businesses die and all of the jobs associated with them be lost for many years,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition Letter To Congress

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy,

We are writing to implore you to reach a bipartisan deal on legislation to prevent catastrophic economic harm that would result if Congress does not pass additional emergency relief before adjourning for the election. Support for furloughed or laid off employees, critical infrastructure, small businesses, educational institutions, first responders, and all state and local governments that are addressing the ongoing public health and economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are priorities we strongly believe require an immediate and unified response from our federal government.

The undersigned groups represent a diverse cross section of our country and our economy, with the public and private sectors coming together to respectfully demand that Democrats and Republicans alike come together to pass additional COVID economic relief legislation. 

Our employees, businesses, and constituents cannot wait for additional federal aid to come in December 2020 or March 2021. If Congress fails to act, millions of employees will be furloughed or terminated; millions of unemployed Americans will lose their unemployment insurance pandemic benefits; hundreds of thousands of companies will be at risk of closing their doors forever; and the vast majority of state and local governments will have to curtail critical services in order to balance budgets due to a decline in tax revenue. 

This is a pivotal moment. Congress needs to rise to the occasion and cast partisanship aside to provide a lifeline to get through this pandemic. Congress’ failure to act now will result in negative economic ramifications that will reverberate for decades. 

Thank you for your continued hard work and tireless leadership during these unprecedented times. 

Sincerely,

The COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition

Airlines for America 

Airport Ground Transportation Association 

Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association

Alabama Tourism Partnership, Inc.

Alabama Travel Council, Inc.

Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association

American Association of Airport Executives

American Bus Association 

American Dental Association 

American Gaming Association 

American Hotel & Lodging Association 

American Lighting Association 

American Mold Builders Association 

American Supply Association

American Veterinary Medical Association 

Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association

Arkansas Hospitality Association

Asian American Hotels Owners Association 

Building America's Future 

California Hotel & Lodging Association

California Retailers Association

Casino Association of Indiana

Central Missouri Independent Electrical Contractors Association

Central Pennsylvania Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors 

Central Tex Chapter Independent Electrical Contractors

Club Management Association of America 

Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association

Commercial Food Equipment Service Association

Community Leaders of America 

Connecticut Lodging Association

Convenience Distribution Association 

Deadwood Gaming Association

Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association

Florida Retail Federation

Florida West Coast Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors 

Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association

Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association

Georgia Retailers

Global Business Travel Association 

Global Cold Chain Alliance 

Go LIVE Together 

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 

GOPAC Education Fund

Hospitality Maine

Hospitality Minnesota

Hotel Association of New York City

Hotel Association of Washington DC

Illinois Casino Gaming Association 

Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

Illinois Retail Merchants Association

Independent Bakers Association 

Independent Electrical Contractors

Independent Electrical Contractors Dakotas, Inc

Independent Show Organizers 

Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association

Indiana Retail Council

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions 

International Association of Exhibitions and Events

International Association of Venue Managers

International Council of Shopping Centers

International Franchise Association 

Iowa Gaming Association 

Kansas Chamber

Kansas Retail Council

Latino Hotel Association 

Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus 

Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores

Maryland Food Industry Council

Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association

Maryland Retailers Association

Massachusetts Lodging Association

Meeting Professionals International

Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association

Michigan Retailers Association

Mississippi Hospitality & Gaming Association 

Missouri Retailers Association

Missouri Tire Industry Association

Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association

National Airport Parking Industry Trade Association 

National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers

National Association of Counties

National Association of Theatre Owners

National Association of Trailer Manufacturers 

National Association of Women Business Owners 

National Automatic Merchandising Association

National Club Association 

National Community Pharmacists Association 

National Conference for State Legislatures

National Council of State Legislators

National Employment Opportunity Network 

National Federation of Independent Business

National Fisheries Institute

National Golf Course Owners Association

National Governors Association

National Independent Talent Organization

National Independent Venue Association 

National League of Cities 

National Parking Association

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association 

National Restaurant Association 

National Small Business Association 

National Tooling and Machining Association 

Near Airport Parking Industry Trade Association 

Nebraska Hotel & Lodging Association

Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association

Nevada Resort Association 

New Hampshire Retail Association

New Jersey Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors

New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association

New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association

New York State Tourism Industry Association 

North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers 

North American Die Casting Association 

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

North Carolina Retail Merchants Association

Northwest Pennsylvania Independent Electrical Contractors

Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association

Ohio Travel Association

Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association

Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association

Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association

Pet Industry Distributors Association

Portland Cement Association

Precision Machined Products Association 

Precision Metalforming Association 

Produce Marketing Association 

Professional Beauty Association 

Recording Academy

Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C. 

Retail Association of Maine

Retail Council of New York State

Retail Merchants of Hawaii

Retailers Association of Massachusetts

Rhode Island Hospitality Association

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Small Business Council of America 

Small Business for America's Future

Small Business Legislative Council 

Society of Independent Show Organizers 

South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association 

South Dakota Grocers Association

South Dakota Hospitality Association

South Dakota Restaurant Association

South Dakota Retailers Association

Sports & Fitness Industry Association 

St. Louis Area Hotel Association

Student and Youth Travel Association 

Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association

Texas Hotel & Lodging Association

Texas Retailers Association

The American Society of Travel Advisors 

The Association For Manufacturing Technology

The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association 

Travel Goods Association 

Travel Oregon

Travel Technology Association

Tri State Jewelers Association

United States Conference of Mayors

United States Travel Association 

Utah Tourism Industry Association

Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association

Virginia Retail Federation

Virginia Retail Merchants Association

Virginia Wineries Association

Washington Hospitality Association

Washington Retail Association

West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association

Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association

Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association

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