The United Motorcoach Association is mobilizing its members and friends of the industry to put the pressure on Congress to preserve $8 billion in funding for their industry, as negotiators, at mid-afternoon on Friday, Dec. 18, are looking for ways to make cuts to the industry’s funding level. With motorcoach industry Covid relief funds in jeopardy, fast action is needed to preserve the $8 billion in loans and grants slated for the industry.
“As Congress continues to debate the current relief bill,” Ken Presley,UMA COO said in an urgent communication to industry allies, “we are once again receiving word that some negotiators desire to reduce the amount reserved in the CERTS Act. To preserve the $8 billion, it is critically important you take a moment to ask your U.S. Senators and House Member to preserve the current level.”
Negotiations happening now
“Negotiations are happening NOW,” UMA President & CEO Larry Killingsworth said. “It is important you take a moment to send correspondence NOW. Negotiations continue and are expected to spill into the weekend.”
Within 20 minutes of the communications to motorcoach allies, already 2,000 messages had been sent using UMA’s online platform. “This is exactly why this technology is so vital to our advocacy efforts,” Presley said. “When we need to mobilize our advocates, we can do it within minutes.”
In addition to the email letter writing campaign, UMA is using social media channels to broaden the dissemination of the message and empower advocates to leverage their social media contacts to join efforts to secure much needed funding for the essential motorcoach industry. With Covid relief funds in jeopardy at the tail end of negotiations, motorcoach operators are anxious to know their funding is secure.
Background of CERTS Act
The CERTS Act (S.4150/H.R.7642), an economic relief proposal crafted to assist the private motorcoach, school bus and passenger vessel industries was introduced in the Senate back in July. Since then a House version was introduced and the CERTS Act surpassed 60 percent sponsorship in both Houses with bipartisan support, making it one of the most widely supported Covid relief remedies put forth in Congress.
