APA Advisory - Post Election Efforts to Push Enactment of RESTART

November 17 , 2020

TO:             , 

SUBJECT: Targeted Senate Call to Action For Additional Co-Sponsors of RESTART

With the November 3rd election behind us, our goal during the lame-duck session is to convince Congress to pass RESTART in the upcoming COVID relief package that is currently being discussed and negotiated.

What We Know

Both sides of the aisle are laser focused on more relief before the end of the year. Democrats and Republicans both agree on additional PPP, additional Enhanced Unemployment, and an additional $1,200 stimulus check. The amount of Enhanced Unemployment is still being debated. Our goal is to move Congress to pass RESTART, as it provides the three above items, as well as much needed additional funding for operations.

In this Call to Action, we are asking APA member companies to assist us in our efforts to target the 44 Senators on the attached list who have not yet cosponsored the RESTART Act. We have highlighted our top targets -- those on the Small Business Committee plus both Georgia Senators who face run-off elections. However, feel free to contact any Senate office where you have a connection or strong state presence.  

Like our previous calls to action, email contact information is listed for the Legislative Director (LD).  Of course, if you have already been in touch with another staffer in recent months, please continue that dialogue.  

Call to Action

Please send an email to the LD of your Senator and Senators within states that you do business.

(Please use the sample template email provided below and remember to customize adding the Senator’s name, percentages, phone number and your signature):

Subject:  Please Support RESTART in COVID Relief Package Negotiations

Dear Senator (name):

The RESTART Act (S. 3814) would offer small and medium businesses long-term working capital loans.

Because the fireworks entertainment industry requires large public gatherings, we were one of the first industries shut down and we will be one of the very last industries to fully reopen, sometime in mid-2021.  This has resulted in tremendous financial hardship to my company and many small companies and their employees across the country. We have lost over X% of our annual revenues and we have had to furlough XX employees.

Congress should act during the lame-duck session and pass the RESTART Act.  Our industry urgently needs a lifeline as the short-term assistance received from PPP has run out and small family businesses like ours require longer-term support from Congress in the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation if we are going to survive.

Thank you for your support and assistance.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at (xxx-xxx-xxxx) if you have any questions or if I can provide additional information. Please help us!

Sincerely,

(your name) (title) (Company)

#We Make Events – Red Alert

We Make Events, representing the Live Event Industry, issued a call to action last week to increase visibility of our efforts and the unique plight of the live events industry.  Bringing out their Red Alert logo and calling upon all businesses and personnel in the live events industry to draw attention to our cause via social media, billboards, marquees, etc. Marquees were quite large and visible in Washington, DC on the National Mall. 

The APA recently offered to partner with We Make Events on an upcoming event that would help draw attention to the fireworks entertainment industry being part of the live events industry. Stay tuned for a possible signature event call to action featuring what APA members do best – lighting up the skies!

Thank you to all APA members for heeding our calls to action. Keep up the fight and be loud! We are in this together and we are doing everything that we can to get over the finish line with a RESTART victory to deliver the critical financial relief for our hardest hit member companies and industry at large

Advisory #2020-46