117th Congress

The U.S. Congress convened its 117th session on January 3, 2021 and is scheduled to adjourn sine die on January 3, 2023.

U.S. House of Representatives – https://www.house.gov/

• U.S. House Leadership – https://www.house.gov/leadership
• U.S. House Committees – https://www.house.gov/committees

U.S. Senate – https://www.senate.gov/index.htm

• U.S. Senate Leadership – https://www.senate.gov/senators/leadership.htm
• U.S. Senate Committees – https://www.senate.gov/committees/index.htm

Key Legislation – https://www.congress.gov/

• H.R. 1319 (P.L.117-2) – American Rescue Plan (enacted March 11, 2021)
• H.R. 5 – Equality Act
• H.R. 1704 – Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act 
• H.R. 1987 – WORK NOW Act
• H.R. 3296 – Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act
• H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Contains amendment to add “arts and entertainment” among a list of industries that are identified in the bill
  as eligible for $10 billion in industry partnership grants through the Department
  of Labor. 
• H.R. 4502 – Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2022 – Provides proposed $201 million to NEA and NEH.
• H.R. 5019 – Creative Economy and Revitalization Act (CERA)
• H.R. 5305 – Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act – Temporarily funds the federal government at FY2021 enacted levels until December 3, 2021
• H.R. 5376 – Bulid Back Better Act
• H.R. 5581 – Arts Education for All Act
• S. 196 – Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act 
• S. 243 – Legacy IRA Act
• S. 618 – Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act
• S. 740 – WORK NOW Act
• S. 937 – COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
• S. 2858 – Creative Economy and Revitalization Act (CERA)

Relevant Congressional Caucuses (as of June 2021)

• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional STEAM Caucus
• Senate Cultural Caucus

Signatory Letters of Support Sent to U.S. Congress – Issues of Interest

• Urge Support and Passage of Extension and Expansion of Universal Charitable Deduction Beyond 2021 – Charitable Giving Coalition – sent to Congress in December 2020
• Support increased funding for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Program  – National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) Stakeholder Coalition – sent to Congress in February 2021 
• Support the extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application deadline – #ReliefforCharities Coalition – sent to Congress in February 2021
• Statement of Guiding Principles to Advance Racial Equity and Justice – to be sent to White House and Congress in June 2021; Identical to the letter coordinated and sent to the White House and Congress in September 2020 by the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and Council on Accreditation, the YWCA, the American Heart Association, Goodwill International, and other national organizations. The letter is being refreshed and resent to the White House and Congress to reiterate the urgency and importance of addressing these issues.
• Statement to Provide Relief to Nonprofit Organizations During and Beyond the Pandemic – National Council of Nonprofits – sent to White House and Congress in March 2021
• Urge Support and Passage of Legacy IRA Act legislation – Legacy IRA Coalition – sent to Congress in April 2021
• Urge Support and Passage of Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act; Urge Inclusion in Next tax Package – Charitable Giving Coalition – sent to Congress in April 2021
• Urge Administration to Address Ongoing Issues with Foreign Artist Visas Process – Performing Arts Visa Working Group – sent to U.S. Department of State in Spring 2021
• Urge Support and Passage of WORK NOW Act legislation – National Council of Nonprofits – sent to Congress in May 2021
•  Urge increased support for the nonprofit sector during and beyond the current pandemic – #ReliefforCharitiesCoalition – Sent in July 2021 and resent in September 2021 to Congress
• Urge regular release of accurate and accessible data on nonprofit employment and wage trends so federal policymakers can make informed policy decisions and provide support for the nonprofit sector – Independent Sector – Sent in August 2021 to Congress
• Urge reinstatement of the Employee Retention Tax Credit for the fourth quarter of 2021 and to extend to the 2022 taxable year – #ReliefforCharitiesCoalition – Sent in September 2021 to Congress

Current Action Alerts

•   Support Increased FY2022 NEA Appropriations