Situational Awareness
The House is not in session this week. The Senate is in session and has a number of votes planned on nominations and motions to instruct conferees to the China competition bill to boost innovation and manufacturing.
NCA Provides Input on Overtime Regulations
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to mark up the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) on Wednesday. The reauthorization includes changes to address climate change and equity for rural, tribal and underserved communities. The bill will also authorize new infrastructure projects and make investments in ports, waterways and restoration of shorelines and riverbanks
Indiana and Ohio Primaries This Week
The general elections for House and Senate will get a little clearer for Indiana and Ohio this week as both states hold their primary elections. The most widely watched race is the Republican primary to replace retiring Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio). Famed author and candidate J.D. Vance appears to be peaking at precisely the right time and currently leads the field with 23%. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel polls at 18%, businessman Mike Gibbons is at 13% and State Senator Matt Dolan holds 11%. While these four candidates are the only ones polling in the double digits, roughly 25% of respondents indicated they hadn’t made up their minds on a candidate yet. President Trump carried Ohio by 8 points during the last presidential election; the winner of the Republican primary enters the general election as the favorite against retiring Democratic Representative Tim Ryan who is heavily favored in the Democratic primary.
National Golf Day May 10 and 11
The American Golf Industry Coalition’s 14th annual National Golf Day will be held Tuesday, May 10, and Wednesday, May 11. Industry professionals will participate in advocacy efforts and conduct more than 250 virtual meetings with Members of Congress to reinforce golf’s economic, societal, environmental and health benefits.
Golf as an industry in the United States has experienced a surge since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, led by participation growth among diverse segments of the population (source: National Golf Foundation):
- Overall rounds in 2021 (529 million) is the highest play total on record and is +5.5% vs. 2020 (502 million).
- 3.2 million people played on a golf course in the U.S. for the first time in 2021 (an all-time high). Beginners also were 45% more likely to be non-Caucasian and 35% more likely to be female compared to the current base of golfers.
- In 2021, there were 5.2 million non-Caucasian on-course golfers, +8% over the past two years. Black, Asian and Hispanic golfers accounted for almost 21% of overall on-course participants, the highest total since 2013.
- There were 6.2 million women on-course golfers in 2021, an 11% increase over the past two years.
Early Talk on Immigration Reform
Last week, a bipartisan group of senators met to discuss the possibility of cobbling together a limited immigration reform package for consideration by Congress after the elections in November. While issues at the border continue to complicate the political prospects of crafting legislation both Democrats and Republicans can support, there does seem to be bipartisan interest in addressing the status of the so-called “Dreamers,” who arrived in the U.S. as children. There is also discussion about the possibility of taking action to alleviate the worker shortage in the service sector.
Less than Two Weeks to Attend the 2022 National Club Conference
Time is running out and slots are filling up to attend this year’s National Club Conference, May 15-17 in Charleston, S.C. Take part in superior education from business leaders across major industries, connect with vendors that can help your club, and enjoy unforgettable moments with colleagues in friends. Join us at our largest Conference yet by registering here.
ClubPAC to Hold Reception At Conference
ClubPAC will hold a reception for Conference attendees who have signed the prior authorization form, and will provide an inside look into the political engagement of NCA. ClubPAC has been undergoing a shift in how it approaches political giving by focusing on the policy goals of NCA and building meaningful relationships on both sides of the aisle. While NCA members who have signed a prior authorization form receive the monthly ClubPAC Insider, the reception will be an opportunity for us to discuss the elections in more detail and how ClubPAC is speaking for the private club community in the political process.