The Senate began debate Thursday on a version of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act that has some significant changes to the bill that passed the House last weekend. A Senate “manager’s amendment” reduces the number of individuals who will be eligible for $1,400 checks, shifts $10 billion to pay for broadband expansion and includes “guardrails” on how state, local, tribal and territorial governments will be able to spend the remaining $340 billion in aid. It also eliminates a $15 minimum wage.
The Senate version, so far, retains several provisions of importance to charitable nonprofits. It would expand eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans to charitable nonprofits with over 500 employees, like Goodwill Northern New England and Spurwink. As part of the bill’s expansion of unemployment benefits for 14 million people, the bill also increases the federal coverage of the unemployment costs for reimbursing (or self-insured) nonprofits from 50 percent to 75 percent.
It further extends the employee retention tax credit from July 1 through the end of the year. Additionally, the measure would provide more funding for vaccinations and testing, schools, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, child care providers, the Corporation for National and Community Service, arts and humanities organizations, food assistance, housing and homelessness prevention and nonprofits providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Maine nonprofits employ 1 in 6 workers and have risen to meet the needs in their communities while facing economic hardship because of the pandemic, just like all other businesses. We urge our senators to pass the American Rescue Plan Act with these nonprofit priorities in mind.
Sarah Woodard
advocacy and public affairs director, Maine Association of Nonprofits
Portland
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