Congress continues to work on President Joe Biden's $1.9T American Rescue Plan. The U.S. Senate approved the Fy2021 Budget Resolution last week after a marathon 15-hour vote-a-rama, allowing for the U.S. House of Representatives to start drafting their respective pieces of the legislation. Of note, an amendment offered by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) to direct additional resources to the ailing hospitality and tourism Industry was approved unanimously. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated the House plans to "send something over to the Senate" before several initiatives, such as boosted unemployment benefits, are set to expire on March 15.
AHLA continues to call on Congress to immediately implement additional long-term grant programs for industries and workers that have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that thousands of mid- to large-sized businesses in the hospitality sector do not qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and have received no relief during the pandemic.