Dear Member of the Yoga Community,
As you may have heard, Congress left Washington, D.C. earlier this month for its annual August recess. It did so without passing a new COVID-19 relief package to extend important programs for individuals and small businesses that have now expired. While Members of Congress and the Trump Administration generally agree that financial aid to small businesses and the unemployed should continue, they remain in fierce debate over the amount of aid that business and individuals should receive, as well as other policy issues. When Congress left town, work on a relief bill stopped.
It was recently announced, however, that the House of Representatives will return to D.C. later this week to focus on legislation in support of the Postal Service. Although we do not expect immediate term action on COVID-19 relief legislation in combination with the Postal Service legislation, there is potential for Congress to resume negotiations related to a COVID-19 bill over the coming days. It’s important that they do so. And, we must continue to remind lawmakers how vital additional relief measures are to small businesses, sole proprietors, and professionals like us. Put simply—we all have more work to do to persuade Congress to act!
- If you have already sent an email to Members of Congress using our automated Congressional appeal, we ask for you to please consider sending another, letting them know how the expiration of the CARES Act relief has affected you.
- If you have yet to reach out to your legislators, now is the time.
Take Action Now
Our community is tens of thousands strong. Together—and especially with our friends and family—we can send a consistent and powerful message encouraging the necessary action our community needs to weather this crisis. Our united voices can influence the availability of enhanced unemployment insurance for those struggling during this unprecedented pandemic. We can push forward financial assistance for small businesses which may be available in the form of flexible and, in some cases, forgivable loans, either through the expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program or another more generous small business loan program.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@yogaalliance.org, where our team can help guide you. Thank you for your continued efforts related to this imperative initiative and for all that you do for your communities.
Your Yoga Alliance
#TogetherWeThrive