Situational Awareness
The House and Senate are both in session this week. The Senate will continue work on cabinet-level nominations and the House will be considering immigrations measures as well as legislation to extend the deadline for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications.
COVID-19 Relief Signed Into Law
On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed into law the “American Rescue Act.” The latest coronavirus relief and stimulus package contains several provisions of impact to the private club community. It extends the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) through the end of the year, expands eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program, and establishes the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. See how this bill impacts clubs by reading the NCA Member Alert sent last week.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Deadline Extension
As was noted in last week’s NCA Member Alert, the American Rescue Act did expand eligibility for the PPP, but it did not extend the March 31, 2021, deadline for new applications. The House will consider bipartisan legislation to provide small businesses with two additional months to apply for the program. The legislation, H.R. 1799, is expected to pass with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It is unclear at this time how quickly the Senate will be able to consider it for passage.
Immigration
In the midst of a growing surge at the southern border, this week the House will consider immigration legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for individuals covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections (H.R. 6). The House will also consider legislation to provide green cards to farm workers who do not currently have legal status (H.R. 1603). Senate action on these measures is unclear as they would be subject to a filibuster.
Nominations
The Senate is on track this week to consider two nominations for cabinet positions in the Biden Administration. It is expected the Senate will consider final votes for Xavier Becerra of California to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Deb Haaland to lead the Department of the Interior. Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D – N.Y.), is also expected to file cloture on the nomination of Isabella Casillas Guzman to head the Small Business Administration.
House Passes Major Labor Bill
Last week, the House passed wide-sweeping labor legislation that would dramatically shift the balance of federal labor law that has existed for decades. The “Protect the Right to Organize Act” (PRO Act) would allow a form a card-check for organizing, allow snap union representation elections, impose mandatory arbitration and vitiate state right-to-work laws, passed by a vote of 225 – 206. A key priority of labor unions, the legislation’s fate is unclear in the Senate unless or until the 60-vote filibuster threshold is changed. NCA joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other allies on a letter opposing the legislation.
New Coronavirus Town Hall: One Year Later
On March 16 at 2pm ET, NCA will host a critical Coronavirus Town Hall that assembles the original panel of experts from our groundbreaking inaugural Town Hall to look back over the past year and identify what our industry still needs to do to succeed moving forward. I will be giving an update on the current status of the COVID-19 relief legislation and its affects on clubs.
This webinar is free for the entire club community. Register here.