Government Update
By Shaun Petersen NIADA Senior V.P. Legal and Government Affairs
N
IADA is your voice in Washington D.C., advocating for independent dealers, the used vehicle industry and small business. Here’s a look at the latest news and NIADA efforts regarding legislative, regulatory and grass roots activities.
LEGISLATIVE
At press time, the Democratcontrolled House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate remained in a standoff over the next phase of COVID-19 relief legislation. In May, the House passed the Heroes Act, a $3 trillion package that includes $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments, another round of stimulus checks to individual Americans and an extension of the $600 per week enhanced unemployment benefit. In July, Senate Republicans introduced a series of bills – collectively called the Health,
Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act – totaling $1 trillion in spending. The HEALS Act also includes stimulus payments, but does not include state and local funding, and would substantially reduce the unemployment benefit to $200 initially, then matching 70 percent of lost wages when added to state benefits. It would also put another $190 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program and allow small businesses to take out a second PPP loan. As the two sides attempt to negotiate an agreement, NIADA has been actively supporting several bills related to the COVID-19 pandemic. One is S. 4117, the Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act, which would provide automatic forgiveness for PPP loans of less than $150,000, requiring only submission of a one-page form. Currently, businesses must show they have met certain conditions regarding how and when
16 | the Front Row | wsiada.com | Special Edition Fall 2020
EDITOR’S NOTE: Those of you who read the NIADA magazine may have already seen the attached. I thought the information was important enough to include in our magazine as well. ~ Todd Elliott
the funds are used to have the loans forgiven. Another is S. 4317, the Safe to Work Act, which is part of the HEALS Act. The bill would provide a five-year liability shield to prevent businesses, schools and hospitals from being sued over coronavirusrelated issues. The liability shield has been on the Republicans’ radar almost since the pandemic began in March, but it has been opposed by Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the lack of such a shield would “dramatically slow” the nation’s economic recovery. NIADA is also seeking additional targeted assistance for certain small businesses, including additional PPP funds for the businesses that need it most.
REGULATORY
Federal Trade Commission: Three years ago, the FTC began an in-
