April 8, 2020 Dear Members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation, Thank you for your continued efforts in the face of the COVID-19 public health emergency. We, the undersigned business trade associations and chambers of commerce, represent thousands of Wisconsin employers in all industries across our state. Our members provide family-supporting jobs to countless Wisconsinites. We are writing to you with several concerns that we have about recent federal legislation to address the public health emergency. We are grateful for many aspects of the federal CARES Act legislation passed at the end of March. A key item in this bill, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), will help many small businesses continue to make payroll during this challenging time. However, we are concerned that 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade associations are not covered by the PPP. During this difficult time, business trade associations are performing an essential role for our state’s businesses. We act as the voices of our members and their industry sectors, relaying critical information to decision-makers about the needs and experiences of our members. We transmit information, answer questions, and ensure that our members have the tools they need to comply with the deluge of laws, orders and regulatory changes that are being introduced. At the same time, we depend on dues payments from our members in order to keep our own employees working and to fulfil our important missions. As our members see their revenue dry up and they are forced to make tough decisions about their employees and other expenses, this will inevitably impact our own organizations. Accordingly, we would like to see PPP loans made available to 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations. Just like our small business members, we are small employers that provide family-supporting jobs to Wisconsinites. We are also concerned that an entire class of employers – small businesses that happen to be owned by private equity firms – has been made ineligible for these loans. Our associations represent small businesses of all kinds, whether owner-operated or owned by a private equity firm. Although the latter are investor-owned, that does not mean they are able to stay in business or continue making payroll indefinitely without assistance. These businesses should be able to access the PPP just like any other small business. As such, we respectfully request that you remedy this issue in the next phase of federal coronavirus legislation, in order to prevent the needless bankruptcies and layoffs that will otherwise result. Finally, we believe that the PPP will require additional funding in order to fully support the needs of our nation’s businesses. While the original $349 billion appropriation is substantial, there is great uncertainty about when many industries will be able to resume some semblance of their normal operations. Therefore, we ask that Congress provide $200 billion in additional funding for the PPP. Thank you for your continued work and attention to these issues. We hope you will address our concerns in the next phase of federal legislation regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency. Respectfully, Wisconsin Business Trade Associations American Chemistry Council Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin, Inc. Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin Independent Business Association of Wisconsin Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin, Inc. Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Wisconsin Association of Textile Services Wisconsin Cast Metals Association Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Wisconsin Dairy Alliance Wisconsin Grocers Association Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association Wisconsin Paper Council Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Wisconsin Restaurant Association Wisconsin Chambers of Commerce Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce Cross Plains Area Chamber of Commerce DeForest Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce Delafield Chamber of Commerce Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center, Inc. Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Forward Janesville, Inc. Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry Geneva Lake West Chamber of Commerce Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Greater Green Bay Chamber Greater Mauston Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce Monroe Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mosinee Area Chamber of Commerce Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce New Berlin Chamber of Commerce & Vis. Bureau New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Park Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Platteville Regional Chamber Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Portage County Business Council Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce Rice Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street, Inc. South Suburban Chamber of Commerce Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce Superior – Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Manitowoc County Tomah Chamber & Visitors Center Turtle Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Waukesha County Business Alliance, Inc. Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce Whitewater Chamber of Commerce