July 24, 2020 the Honorable Nancy Pelosi the Honorable Kevin Mccarthy Speaker of the House House Minority Leader United St
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July 24, 2020 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Speaker of the House House Minority Leader United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives H-232, The Capitol H-204, The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Chuck Schumer Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate S-230, The Capitol S-221, The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Schumer: Since day one of the COVID-19 crisis, independent supermarket operators and our store associates have served Americans across the country – providing food and beverages, toilet paper and cleaning products, medication, fuel, banking and payment services, and the other necessities of life. We, the undersigned independent grocery retailers and wholesalers, represent close to one percent of the nation’s overall economy and are responsible for generating $131 billion in sales, 944,000 jobs, $30 billion in wages, and $27 billion in taxes. For generations, our businesses have worked tirelessly to feed and serve the communities we are a part of. COVID-19 has presented many new challenges for the independent grocery industry, but our doors have remained open and our associates have continued to work hard to make sure that every customer is served. However, there is an emerging threat not unique to grocery: efforts by some to take advantage of the current pandemic to file unfounded lawsuits alleging that customers and employees have been infected with COVID-19. Given the historic efforts of Congress to save businesses large and small as well as American jobs, it would be devastating to have independent grocery – or healthcare, education, public transportation, other retail – face a series of unjust lawsuits. Congress can help solve this problem by passing COVID-19 liability protections, like H.R. 7528, the Get America Back to Work Act. Creating a safe harbor for businesses and their employees from frivolous civil lawsuits will allow industries like ours to continue to work; provided businesses took reasonable steps to comply with guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other federal, state, and local health authorities. Limited liability protections for businesses acting in good faith to protect individuals from the spread of the coronavirus is a necessity. However, this legislation should not protect bad actors, but only those who have made their best efforts to comply with federal, state, and local guidance. We ask that you include COVID-19 liability protections for businesses and their associates in the forthcoming coronavirus aid and relief package. This current health crisis has tested our country’s grocery supply chain, yet we continue to work night and day to make sure our customers are served. We ask Congress’s help to protect our businesses and our employees from the existential threat of frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits. Thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely, A&J Select Market Bell's Market Camden IGA About Food Inc. dba Redlands Ranch Bellwood Hometown Market IGA Capri IGA Foodliner Market Bend Food--Less Carlie C's Adams Foods IGA Berridge IGA Carlie C's Four Oaks Adams Hometown Market Bert's Red Apple Carlie C's IGA Adam's IGA Better Val-U Supermarket IGA Carlie C's of Lillington Adam's Super Food IGA Betty's Country Store Carlie C's Smithfield Adam's Super Food Store Big Al's Market Express Carl's Food Center IGA Adams Supermarket-Terryville IGA Big T IGA Carlyle IGA Akins Fresh Markets Big Top Markets Carnation Market IGA Alabama Holley Farm IGA Bill's IGA Carroll's IGA Alaskan and Proud Market Bishops Market IGA Cascade Select Market Albert's Red Apple Blanton's IGA Casel's Marketplace IGA Albright's One Stop Bloomfield IGA Casey's IGA Allendale IGA Blue Marlin IGA Cashsaver IGA Allen's IGA Blue Ridge Grocery Cedar Lodge IGA Alward's Market Express Blythewood IGA Foodliner Cedar Village IGA Amagansett IGA Super Saver Bob and Jeff's IGA Supermarket Centralia Shop'n Kart America's Food Basket Bob's IGA Store Charley Family Shop N Save Andy's IGA Foodliner Boiceville Market IGA Chaumont IGA Express Archie's IGA Boonville Sav U Mor IGA Chehalia Shop'n Kart Armata's IGA Borowiak's IGA Chelan Market Art Deco Supermarket Boulineau's Foods Plus IGA Chelten Market IGA Arthur IGA Brackett's Market IGA Cheraw IGA Ashland Shop'n Kart Brewer IGA Chester's Thriftway-John Day Ashville IGA Broadus IGA & Pharmacy Chester's Thriftway-Lincoln Beach Associated Grocers of New England Brookville IGA Chester's Thriftway-Pacific City Associated Supermarket Group Broulim's Supermarkets City Market IGA (ASG) Bruns Apple Market Clay City IGA Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. Brushy Mountain IGA Clermont IGA Athens IGA Bryn Mar IGA Clifton Market Augusta IGA Bryson City IGA Clinton Foodmart Aurora IGA Fresh Market Buddies Groceries IGA Clinton Foods IGA Autry Greer & Sons, Inc. Buddy's IGA Clinton IGA Bailey's IGA Buffalo Shoals IGA Coborn's Inc. Baker's IGA Buntings Cedar IGA Coborns, Inc. Baker's IGA Express Burkesville IGA Colerain IGA Baltimore IGA Express Burkholder's Country Market IGA Columbia IGA Barbourville IGA Cairo IGA Columbiana Foods Inc. Barnwell IGA Cal Mart IGA Columbus IGA Plus Bayview Thriftway Calais IGA Community Foods Market Beartooth IGA Calhoun WFO IGA Conway IGA Bellport Super Saver IGA California Fresh Markets Cook's Oakland Park IGA Bell's Gourmet Market Camano Plaza Market IGA Copper Valley IGA Corley's Grocery El Rancho Marketplace Frenchburg IGA Cornerstone Elgin IGA Frenchtown Market IGA Cornerstone IGA Elkton One Stop IGA Express FRESH FOODS CANNON BEACH Country Foods IGA Elloree IGA Fresh Foods IGA Cowen IGA, LLC Elmer IGA, Inc. Friday Harbor Marketplace Craigsville IGA Elsberry IGA Supermarket Frobose IGA Market Cranbury Market IGA Emlenton IGA Fruchey Family Market IGA Crop's Fresh Market Enon IGA Fuller's Market IGA Crossroads IGA Erickson's Thriftway - Burns G & R IGA Cub Foods, Inc. Erickson's Thriftway - Madras Gabriel's Scotia Foods IGA Cubby's Marketplace Erickson's Thriftway - Prineville Gabriel's Supermarket IGA Cutsforth's Thriftway - Canby Eureka IGA Foodliner Garibaldi's Bay Market D & R Market IGA Eutawville IGA Garrett's IGA Supermarket D&D Stores, Inc. dba D&D Market Everett IGA Foodliner Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods Darlington IGA Evergreen Market Gary & Leo's IGA Darrington IGA Everyday IGA Gaston IGA Foodliner Dave's Marketplace Everyday IGA North Gateway IGA Dave's Marketplace IGA Fairvalue Gavin's IGA Davis / Burkett Food Corp dba Davis Fairway Market IGA GE Foodland, Inc. Food & Drug Family Center IGA Geissler's Supermarket Davis Food & Drug Farmers IGA Foodliner Gels' St. Henry IGA Davis IGA- Fausto's Food Palace General Food Store IGA Davis IGA Super Center Ferri Supermarket Georges Market at Dresherstown Dekalb Supermarket IGA Ferriday Market GF Buche Co. Del Sol IGA Fiesta Foods Gilbert IGA Delhi Liberty Market Fiesta Foods - Pasco Glasgow IGA Derby Village Store Fiesta Foods - Sunnyside Gnazzo's IGA Diamond Food Market IGA Fiesta Foods - Yakima Godwin's IGA Dierbergs Markets, Inc. Fircrest Market IGA Goggin's IGA Dillonvale IGA Fischer's IGA Everyday Goldbar Family Grocer Dill's Food City IGA Fishers Island IGA Supermarket Gong Ventures Inc. DiOrio's Supermarket IGA Fitchs IGA Gongco Foods dba Food 4 Less Dissmore's IGA Fitzgerald's Foods IGA Gordon's Select Market Dixie Dandy Fresh Market IGA Foley's Family Market IGA Grabeel's IGA Don's IGA Food Basket IGA Grandview Market IGA Doscher's IGA Food Cellar & Company Market Granite Falls IGA Drennon's IGA Express Food Cellar Market Grant's Supermarkets Dublin IGA Market Food Champ IGA Great Falls IGA Duvalll Family Grocers Food Giant Inc. Great Lakes Fresh Market - E.C. Porter IGA Food Ranch IGA Marquette East Center IGA Market Food Town IGA Greene's IGA Supermarket East County Thriftway (Elma) Food Towne of North Chili Greenport IGA East Hampton IGA Food World IGA Greenup IGA Economizer IGA Foodland IGA Griffin's IGA Edgar IGA Food Center Foodland Mercado Grimm's Central Market IGA Edmonton Foods IGA Foods Etc. IGA Grolmus Enterprises Inc.-North Scott Ed's IGA Foothills IGA Market Foods Edwards IGA Forest Park WFO IGA Gulfside IGA Plus Egolf's IGA Forks Outfitters H & G IGA Express Eikenberry's IGA Foodliner Fort Salonga IGA Haddens IGA - Louisville El Paso IGA Fowler IGA Foodliner Haddens IGA - Wadley El Rancho Market IGA Frederick IGA Haddens IGA - Wrens Hagerstown Food Mart IGA Hunter IGA Express Kennie's Market Hammer & Wikan Hurley Supermarket IGA Kenny's IGA Seafood Grocery Hansen's Hurley's Fresh Market IGA Kenny's IGA Village Market Happy IGA Hutch's Food Center, Inc. Ken's IGA Harbor Beach Market IGA Express Hyden IGA Ken's Korner Red Apple Harbor Springs Market IGA IGA Ellettsville Kent's IGA Foodliner Harmony IGA IGA Evansville Kershaw IGA Harold's IGA IGA Food Cache Kidron Town and Country Store Harris IGA IGA FOOD CENTER Kingfisher Market Harry's Supermarket IGA IGA Huntingburg Kings Market Hartsville IGA Foodstore IGA Jasper Kingsland IGA Express Hartzell's IGA IGA Loogootee Kingstree IGA Harvest Market IGA Market Place Kinsley's Market of Tannersville, Harvest Market IGA IGA Oakland City Inc. dba Kinsley's ShopRite Harvest Market Thriftway - Estacada IGA of Mason City Kinsman IGA Harvest Market Thriftway - White IGA Olney Kirby Foods IGA Plus Salmon IGA Princeton Kishman's IGA Headland IGA Foodliner IGA Quincy Market KJ's Market Heber IGA Express IGA Rockport Kobacker's IGA Helenwood Foods IGA Inmans IGA Kress IGA Supermarket Henderson's IGA Island Market Kris Mart Hendrick's & Hays IGA Isom IGA K's IGA Heritage IGA J&J Foods, Inc.