Dear Friends and Colleagues: 

Thank you!

Over the past 18 months, your voice has made a real difference as Congress shaped relief and recovery resources. Now, it is time to be heard once again! 

In the coming weeks, Congress will finalize the content of massive legislative vehicles intended to build the nation's infrastructure and provide resources to support recovery amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please participate with PAA's national member organizations, in partnership with the wider arts and nonprofit networks to include your voice. 

Please visit your member organization website for additional information about current legislation being advanced and other policy issues related to you or your organization. 

With thanks to PAA Member, the League of American Orchestras, please see below for a few highlights of the newest funding currently being considered: 

• Retain and Expand the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC): As reported recently, this was part of the negotiating that happened as the larger bills came together. In this case, the infrastructure bill that was passed by the Senate involved a measure to repeal the 2021 fourth quarter access to the ERTC. Many nonprofits have been counting on access to the ERTC through the end of this year to support hiring and program commitments.  Our national partners in the broader arts and nonprofit sectors have been advocating to maintain and expand access to the ERTC. Please visit the League's website to find background information regarding how to access the ERTC.  Please also check out the ERTC advocacy talking points and adapt and personalize your message,when weighing in with Congress.
• Boost America's Arts Infrastructure: PAA, along with more than 60 organizations, has advanced Rebuilding America's Arts Infrastructure (PDF) - a collection of federal-level recommendations to address short- and long-term infrastructure needs while centering racial, economic, and climate equity and utilizing the arts as a vital part of solving myriad challenges. Recommendations run the gamut from modest to more visionary, and we invite you to urge your elected officials to consider the arts as a true partner as well as recipient when it comes to improving our country's infrastructure for all.
• Support the Creative Economy: A bipartisan House bill has been recently introduced, with the endorsement of more than 150 organizations, including the Performing Arts Alliance and our members. The Creative Economy Revitalization Act of 2021 (H.R. 5019), introduced by Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA), seeks to revamp the creative economy through the creation of a workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art. Such a program would be a significant way of incubating support and establishing levers that could meaningfully advance the employment of creative workers and the creation of more public art.

These are a few of the most timely issues which could use a boost from you! Please take a few moments to review the campaign below, identify the issues that resonate most for you and your community, and  contact your members of Congress. Please don't forget to urge your friends and colleagues to do the same.

Thank you!