Advocacy Alert - July 13, 2020 In this Alliance Advocacy Alert
Urge Congress to Support Emergency Funding For Museums Impacted by COVID-19
With Congress expected to negotiate the next pandemic economic relief package before the August recess, we must continue to make our voices heard to our members of Congress in support of museums.
Even if you already have done so, please contact your legislators now to let them know what your museum is facing and urge them to provide emergency funding for museums' COVID-19 economic relief. The nation's museum community is facing an existential threat from the closures required as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Museums anticipate closures and reduced visitorship through 2020 and into 2021. Normal revenue from admissions fees, retail sales, and event rentals have effectively ceased, and charitable contributions are expected to continue to decline dramatically. Preliminary data from an American Alliance of Museums survey shows that nearly 20% of museums face a significant risk of closing permanently. Nationwide, museums are losing at least $33 million a day due to closures and are in desperate need of significant federal support to maintain jobs, secure our cultural heritage, help to rebuild our nation's tourism industry - and simply to survive the months to come. Addressing this threat requires decisive action from the U.S. Congress beyond previous economic relief legislation.
As your legislators consider the next round of COVID-19 economic relief legislation, we urge Congress to:
Our requests: (1) Extend and expand the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") by enabling a second round of funding for all nonprofits, including museums, and make eligible nonprofit organizations with greater than 500 employees; and (2) Enact and expand grant and funding programs, such as the proposed WORK NOW Act or the Employee Retention Tax Credit, to help nonprofits retain employees, scale service delivery, and create new jobs. PPP has been a lifeline for many museums and their employees but that lifeline has run out for many without Congress authorizing additional forgivable loans for current borrowers.
Our requests: (1) Authorize and require the Federal Reserve to quickly finalize a nonprofit lending facility under MSLP that is tailored to accommodate mid-size nonprofits including language similar to H.R. 6800 that offers a loan forgiveness option; and (2) Extend eligibility of PPP to all nonprofits of all sizes similar to H.R. 6800 and lift the loan cap to appropriately reflect the operational needs of these nonprofits.
Our request: Allocate $6 billion specifically for museums, to be administered by the IMLS - Office of Museum Services, including for general operating support, assisting museums in developing and sharing distance learning content, and pandemic recovery planning and implementation, including improvements to protect employees and visitors and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Our requests: Increase the federal unemployment insurance reimbursement for self-insured (reimbursing) nonprofits to 100% of costs.
Here are additional Talking Points you can use in making your case to elected officials. You can also use our Letter to the Editor Template to share the message with your local news media.
#Relief4Charities Week of Action
Legislative Updates
PPP Extension: The president signed legislation into law on July 4 to extend the window for PPP applications. The legislation eliminated the June 30th deadline for new applicants who have not received PPP funds to apply and established August 8th as the next deadline for applicants seeking aid. PPP has served as a lifeline for many museums. The Alliance encourages museums who have yet to apply to consider doing so. More information about the program can be found on the Alliance's Finding financial relief and support (for individuals and institutions) page.
Appropriations Update: Good news on the regular appropriations front for FY 2021. House consideration at the committee level has begun in earnest. This is just the beginning of the process with a long way to go, but so far several programs of importance to museums would receive increases if these amounts are enacted:
The FY 2021 appropriations process is in the early stages in the House, has yet to begin in the Senate, and likely will not be finalized until December. It's critical, however, that museum advocates continue to communicate with their legislators throughout this process.
Thank you for your ongoing advocacy for museums.
![]() |