September 29, 2020, U.S. House of Representatives Democrats introduced a 2,100 page "skinny" version of the HEROES Act (which had previously passed the House in May). This updated version is a $2.2 trillion package of COVID-19 relief (a third smaller than their original bill) that is largely seen as a new bid by House Democrats to restart negotiations with the Trump administration.
While the House may pass this bill later this week along party line votes, the Republican-led U.S. Senate is unlikely to take up the legislation. However, there are some provisions that are included in the "skinny" HEROES Act that are greatly needed by the arts and culture sector that arts advocates would like to see ultimately included in any COVID-19 compromise relief package that would eventually be signed into law either before or after the election.
The highlights below of the "skinny" HEROES Act are general provisions that would specifically help the arts and culture sector and nonprofits:
- $135 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services for grants to support the general operations of recipients and language to permit the waiver of matching requirements.This would be the largest supplemental funding amount ever proposed for these cultural agencies and has been urgently sought by grassroots advocates (who took action via our E-alerts like this one), nationally recognized artists, mayors and local chambers of commerce.
- $175 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to assist public telecommunications entities and maintain programming and services.
- $10 billion for grants to live independent venue operators, including non-profit, government and for-profit owned or operated venues, modeled on the "Save Our Stages Act".
- $436 billion in funding to state and local governments to offset the revenue shortfalls in their budgets in order to retain employees and programs.
- Extension of weekly $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensationfor W2 and Self-employed workers through January 31, 2021, and a provision to support "mixed earners".
- Prioritized Payroll Protection Program (PPP) to give second PPP loans of up to $2 million to certain small businesses with less than 200 employees that have suffered demonstrably quarterly revenue losses of at least 25 percent. A priority processing application would be established for very small businesses. Clarifies the covered period would be between 8 to 24 weeks, rather than a hard 24 weeks. Additionally, a set aside 30 percent for first-time PPP loans would be established for nonprofits of all sizes and types; and a new streamlined loan forgiveness process for existing and loans of $150,000 or less; and an expanded list of allowable uses for the funds that would qualify for forgiveness. The original PPP program provided at least $13 billion to the nation's creative economy so far, including $1.8 billion for nonprofit arts organizations directly.
- $8 billion added to the SBA's Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)program.
- $5 billion added to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)program.
- Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program would include specific eligibility to nonprofit organizations for low cost loans.
- $225 billion for education and $57 billion for child care.
Check out these resources to assist you in making your case to decision-makers at the federal, state and local levels:
- Americans for the Arts Coronavirus Resource and Response Center
- Economic Impact of COVID-19 Survey Dashboard (updated weekly)
We continue to monitor the fluid situation and will send more information as it becomes available later this week. Please click here for the full bill text, a section-by-section summary here, and a one-page summary here.