EBC Letter to Leadership

January 28, 2022

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Charles Schumer United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy: Thank you for your ongoing attention to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We respectfully urge Congress to enact further pandemic recovery legislation to maintain and facilitate economic growth in communities throughout the country by supporting businesses that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to face losses due to the uncertainty caused by the Delta and Omicron variants, and have been left out of earlier targeted relief efforts. The Economic Bridge Coalition (EBC), www.economicbridgecoalition.org, is comprised of 17 diverse trade associations and their 2 million-plus member businesses who have something in common: Their businesses have been disproportionately impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting public health measures that forced them to suspend business operations and limit capacity, and the lingering uncertainty posed by the Delta and Omicron variants. The EBC represents approximately $1.2 trillion in annual economic activity and is comprised primarily of small businesses that represent tens of thousands of jobs in every state. The businesses represented by EBC are built on in-person gatherings or support businesses that rely on this type of travel for business or entertainment gatherings. Yet, unlike other similarly situated businesses such as restaurants and theaters, our industries were ineligible for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on well beyond anyone’s expectations, recovery for these mostly small businesses is proceeding substantially slower than expected. Attendance at events is lower than pre-pandemic levels, cancellations are rampant, and future bookings are down significantly. This will impact the health of these businesses, and the communities in which they are located, well into the future. Funds from earlier programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans are long gone, yet Covid-19-related challenges are not over, and many of these businesses face the additional burden of operating under increased debt load with the simple goal of trying to keep their businesses open and employees on payroll

We urge you to pass legislation to provide relief for the severely impacted businesses our coalition represents, by expanding eligibility for the RRF or the SVOG programs, or by creating a new program modeled after the RRF which would provide relief for otherwise left-behind businesses. Congress shouldn’t pick winners and losers, rather, relief should be targeted to the businesses hardest hit by the pandemic.

For further information please contact John McClelland at john.mcclelland@ararental.org

Sincerely,

American Horse Council (AHC)

American Rental Association (ARA)

American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)

American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)

Custom Tailors and Designers Association (CTDA)

The Graphic Artist Guild

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)

International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE)

International Council of Air Shows (ICAS)

Live Events Coalition (LEC)

North American Nature Photography Association

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)

Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA)

Professional Photographers Association (PPA)

Performance Racing Industry (PNI)

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

Cc:

Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Cardin

Senate Small Business Committee Ranking Member Paul

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Leahy

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Shelby

House Small Business Committee Chairman Velázquez

House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Luetkemeyer

House Appropriations Committee Chairman DeLauro

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Granger