Re: Impact of the Payroll Protection Program of Non-Profit Organizations 

Dear Senator: 

As Congress continues to develop responses to the immediate and long-term recovery stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, we write to urge you to address certain organizations that have been excluded from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This program is a vital lifeline for small businesses, sole proprietorships, and non-profits across the nation. 

We ask that future legislative efforts ensure that 501c(4) and 501c(6) organizations have access to the PPP; this includes library associations throughout the United States. Like the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA), these organizations, are vital to the health and longevity of libraries in their state. State library associations are an important part of the ecosystem that ensures continued professional development, dissemination of critical information and the exchange of best practices. Consequently, these organizations are important to the long-term recovery efforts for our local communities. 

There is much work to be done to address the immediate health and safety concerns, and we appreciate your efforts to meet these vital needs. For communities across America, and the tens of thousands of individuals who have been furloughed or are now unemployed, we must take steps to ensure that the long-term economic recovery does not leave vital organizations and non-profits behind. I thank you for your attention to these issues and look forward to working with you on these and other initiatives to respond to this catastrophic situation. 

Sincerely, 

Sherry Machones 
WLA President 

Plumer Lovelace 
WLA Executive Director