Small Business Comeback Act Receives Widespread Support from American Business

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressmen Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Filemon Vela (D-TX) released the Small Business Comeback Act on Monday. The legislation has already received backing from over 150 businesses and organizations. This broad network of support represents 58 million American workers, or approximately 45% of our workforce.

Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) - "This outpouring of business community support is indicative of the impact the Comeback Act would have on our economy. We've got a network of nearly half the American workforce behind this legislation. It is going to provide the relief our businesses need and will do so more efficiently than any other proposal on the table right now."

Statements of Support:

International Council of Shopping Centers

• “We applaud Congressmen Gooden and Vela for outstanding leadership in advancing the COVID–19 Business and Employee Continuity and Recovery Fund, which is the type of broad based policy solution needed to stabilize the US economy.  As our nation continues to combat the virus, the Recovery Fund would provide the capital needed for businesses, including small shopping center owners and their tenants, to survive, recover and drive employment growth," said ICSC President and CEO, Tom McGee. “Shopping centers are an integral part of local communities and provide hundreds of billions of dollars in state and local tax revenues, as well as 1 in 4 jobs. Without a Recovery Fund, the entire industry is at risk resulting in empty storefronts and vacant shopping centers placing an indelible stain on communities across our country.”

International Franchise Association

• “It is clear the economic recovery is going to require a long-term and wide-ranging solution. This legislation will help America’s franchise businesses replace historic losses in revenue, staving off what could be massive numbers of small businesses bankruptcies and layoffs. COVID-19 has affected small businesses of all types, and importantly, this bill doesn’t pick winners and losers by business type, sector, or size."
• "American businesses across the board are hurting. This is the bold solution we need to get through to the other side of this crisis. IFA and America’s 733,000 franchise businesses thank Reps. Vela and Gooden for their leadership.” IFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Matt Haller

America's Recovery Fund Coalition

• “We wholeheartedly endorse and support the legislation introduced by Representatives Vela and Gooden to establish the Small Business Recovery Fund,” said Trevor Hanger, research director for ARFC. “In this bill, we finally have a vehicle to cultivate a sustainable economic recovery. By prioritizing the hardest-hit businesses and with greater flexibility in how the money can be used, the Recovery Fund will help fill the gaps left by earlier programs and give business owners the immediate relief and certainty needed to keep their doors open.
• “As repeated shutdowns and rollbacks of reopening plans continue to disrupt the economy, this legislation will provide the stability that Main Streets across America so desperately need. We thank Representatives Vela and Gooden and call on Congress to pass the Small Business Comeback Act now. The longer we wait, the more costly – and perilous – inaction becomes.”

Full List of Supporting Organizations:
American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), National Association of Truck Stop Owners (NATSO), Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), International Franchise Association (IFA), Innovative Payments Association, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), Endurance Sports Coalition, Real Estate Roundtable, Building Owners and, Managers Association International (BOMA), Certified Commercial Investment Member, Institute (CCIM Institute), Institute of Retail Estate Management (IREM), National Association of REALTORS®, American Booksellers Association, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Associated Equipment Distributors, Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA), California Automotive Business Coalition, Independent Automotive Professionals Assn. ofCA (IAPA), Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), International Carwash Association, International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), National, Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), National Community Pharmacists Association, National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB), The Payroll Group (TPG), Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA), Academy of General Dentistry, Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA), National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), National Franchise Association (NFA), Save Small Business Coalition, Auto Care Association, American Gaming Association (AGA), Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Automotive Service Association, International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, The Society of Industrial and OfficeREALTORS®, Realtors® Land Institute (RLI), National Association of Ticket Brokers, National Retail Federation (NRF), Electronic Transactions Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), The Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Apex Chamber of Commerce, Bandon Chamber of Commerce, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, Brea Chamber ofCommerce, Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, Century City Chamber ofCommerce, CORONA Chamber of Commerce, Culver City Chamber ofCommerce, Durango Chamber of Commerce, Encino Chamber of Commerce, Eugene Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, Gunnison Country Chamber  of Commerce, Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Kaufman Chamber of Commerce, Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Livermore Chamber ofCommerce, Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Area Chamber ofCommerce, Lyons Area Chamber of Commerce, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Mason Deerfield Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, North Clackamas Chamber, North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Chamber ofCommerce, Sherwood Area Chamber of Commerce, Steamboat Springs Chamber, The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, The Falls Chamber of Commerce, Tigard Chamber of Commerce, Torrance Chamber of Commerce, Tualatin Chamber of Commerce, Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Vail Valley Partnership, Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce, West Hollywood Chamber ofCommerce, Westside Council of Chambers of Commerce, Hesperia Chamber of Commerce, Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), Tire Industry Association (TIA), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, National Apartment Association (NAA), Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Dunn Dental Group, Association ofEquipment Manufacturers (AEM), American Resort Development Association (ARDA), Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, Benton County/Camden Chamber, Bridgeport Chamber, Carbon Valley Chamber, Carlsbad Chamber, Castle Rock Chamber, Greater Edgewood Area Chamber, Greater Zephyrhills Chamber, Greenwood-Lefore County, Greshaam Area Chamber, Ham Lake Area Chamber, Hobbs Chamber, Lebanon Chamber, Lincoln City Chamber, Oregon State Chamber, Rancho Mirage Chamber, Robins Regional Chamber, Superior Chamber, Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce, Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber ofCommerce, Vista Chamber of Commerce, Rowlett Chamber of Commerce, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Cushing Chamber of Commerce, Petal Area Chamber of Commerce, Troy Chamber of Commerce, Venice Chamber ofCommerce, The Valley Economic Alliance, The Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce, Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Business and Industry, Pittsburg Chamber ofCommerce, Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA), FELD Entertainment, Inc.