U.S. Travel’s Roger Dow Reacts To COVID Relief Act Summary
December 9, 2020
“We are encouraged with the additional detailed summary just released from the bicameral bipartisan group—the parameters of which were first announced last week. The effort is being spearheaded by Senators Manchin (D-WV) and Warner (D-VA), Murkowski (R-AK), Romney (R-UT), Cassidy (R-LA), and Collins (R-ME).
The bill contains many key provisions that U.S. Travel has fought hard to secure, including:
- $300 billion for small businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), 7(a) loan program and Economic Insurance Disaster Loans
- The second round of PPP provides PPP loans, with loan forgiveness, for small businesses with fewer than 300 employees AND a 30% revenue loss in any quarter of 2020
- The bill also expands eligibility for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) with fewer than 150 full-time and part-time employees to receive a first PPP loan
- $160 billion in funding for state, local and tribal governments, which is similar to the Coronavirus Relief Fund under the CARES Act
- Funding for airports, including set asides for airport concessionaires
- $2.5 billion for vaccine distribution by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and $10 billion for testing and contact tracing.
We will provide a more comprehensive summary later today after detailed text becomes available.
The situation remains very fluid and this is not a final deal. While congressional leadership negotiates, we must ensure our priorities remain included. We are also working through several modifications that would provide further relief for many travel businesses.
We must stay focused, coordinated and united in our efforts. In the coming days, please be prepared to activate. Time and again, we have shown what we can accomplish when we work together and speak with one voice.
Thank you to all who have supported our efforts in recent weeks and throughout the year. We are grateful for your ongoing engagement as we continue to fight for our industry.
Sincerely,
Roger J. Dow
President and CEO
U.S. Travel Association