From ADAUS – The American Dental Association, together with about 2,200 other organizations, are calling for U.S. leaders to include 501(c)(6) organizations — such as trade, business, professional and membership associations — in the Paycheck Protection Program.
The coalition sent a letter July 1 to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, requesting Paycheck Protection Program access for these organizations and also asking for the program to be reauthorized until at least Dec. 31.
In the letter, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry shared the financial issues it has faced because of the pandemic.
“Our association had to cancel our 2020 Annual Session that was scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, resulting in an estimated $3.6-4.1 million in lost revenue,” the academy stated. “We also had to cancel an in-person continuing education course scheduled for late March and another one scheduled for September. The financial impact forced our association to lay off five staff (approximately 20% of our workforce), institute a hiring and salary freeze, and cancel two summer internship programs.”
The letter also calls for the passing of the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020, which would establish a system of shared public and private compensation for business interruption losses and event cancellations resulting from future pandemics or public health emergencies, and the Skills Renewal Act, which would provide Americans who have been laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19 with a $4,000 tax credit to pursue post-secondary skills training and career development.