The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA 02133-1053
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The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA 02133-1053 May 12, 2020 Senator Edward Markey Representative James McGovern 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building 408 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Senator Elizabeth Warren Representative Seth Moulton 309 Hart Senate Office Building 1127 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Representative Katherine Clark Representative Richard Neal 2448 Rayburn House Office Building 2309 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Representative William Keating Representative Ayanna Pressley 2351 Rayburn House Office Building 1108 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Representative Joseph Kennedy III Representative Lori Trahan 304 Cannon House Office Building 1616 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Representative Stephen Lynch 2109 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Honorable Delegation Members, We the undersigned state legislators write to you to advocate for the many small businesses in our districts that have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and have not benefited from the federal CARES Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program. We also want to emphasize that a disproportionate number of small businesses, particularly restaurants, are owned and operated by immigrants and people of color, and, as highlighted by many reports and personal testimonies, are not receiving sufficient support to remain viable. In addition, many small business owners purchased business interruption insurance to protect themselves if a catastrophe caused an interruption in their ability to conduct their business. Year after year, these business owners paid substantial premiums for such business interruption coverage. However, now that the COVID-19 crisis has caused many small business owners to close their doors or substantially curtail their businesses, insurers are denying claims for business interruption insurance. We are respectfully requesting that you advocate for language to be included in the next round of federal stimulus legislation that creates a fund to backstop insurance companies to pay claims for business interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We would also like to underscore our support for the creation of a federal small business grant program that would ensure that small businesses that have been disproportionately negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic receive the financial assistance to sustain them through the pandemic, pay their workers, and be able to re-open when that time comes. Thank you for your tireless service to Massachusetts and our country during this time of unprecedented crisis. We appreciate your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Rep. Nika C. Elugardo, 15th Suffolk Sen. James B. Eldridge, Middlesex & Worcester Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, 7th Middlesex Sen. Nick Collins, First Suffolk Rep. James Arciero, 2nd Middlesex Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem, First Middlesex & Norfolk Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, 13th Bristol Sen. Julian Cyr, Cape & Islands Rep. Tackey Chan, 2nd Norfolk Sen. Sal N. DiDomenico, Middlesex & Suffolk Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, 15th Middlesex Sen. Diana DiZoglio, First Essex Rep. Mike Connolly, 26th Middlesex Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, Second Middlesex Rep. Marcos Devers, 16th Essex Sen. Edward J. Kennedy, First Middlesex Rep. Mindy Domb, 3rd Hampshire Sen. Jason M. Lewis, Fifth Middlesex Rep. Paul J. Donato, 35th Middlesex Sen. Michael O. Moore, Second Worcester Rep. Lori Ehrlich, 8th Essex Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor, Plymouth & Norfolk Rep. William Galvin, 6th Norfolk Sen. Marc Pacheco, First Plymouth & Bristol Rep. Sean Garballey, 23rd Middlesex Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch, Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex Rep. Carmine L. Gentile, 13th Middlesex Sen. Walter F. Timilty, Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, 10th Hampden Sen. James T. Welch, Hampden Rep. Tami L. Gouveia, 14th Middlesex Rep. Kevin Honan, 17th Suffolk Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr., 20th Middlesex Rep. Mary Keefe, 15th Worcester Rep. Kay Khan, 11th Middlesex Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, 12th Plymouth Rep. David LeBoeuf, 17th Worcester Rep. Paul Mark, 2nd Berkshire Rep. Christina Minicucci, 14th Essex Rep. Frank A. Moran, 17th Essex Rep. Tram T. Nguyen, 18th Essex Rep. Denise Provost, 27th Middlesex Rep. Maria Duaime Robinson, 6th Middlesex Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, 1st Hampshire Rep. Paul A. Schmid III, 8th Bristol Rep. Andy X. Vargas, 3rd Essex Rep. Aaron Vega, 5th Hampden Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, 2nd Worcester .