Without relief, 63% of independently-owned clubs in the state would have to permanently close.
Press release dated 12.22.20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, applauded the inclusion in the COVID relief bill of provisions she pushed for that would provide $15 billion in grants to live venues, movie theaters, and museums in Washington state and across the country. The bill also includes a set aside of $2 billion for entities with no more than 50 employees. This achievement builds off of the Save Our Stages Act, legislation Cantwell cosponsored along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to provide desperately needed aid to smaller, independent live venues. Without this relief, 63% of Washington state’s independently owned clubs would have to permanently close, according to a survey by the Washington Nightlife Music Association.
Cantwell spoke about the urgent need to provide relief for these venues at a Commerce hearing earlier this month, saying in part: “You’d think this would just be a slam dunk, that we could just, if nothing else, just go ahead and pass legislation. For us, it’s 38,000 Washingtonians, about a $2.4 billion music industry overall. So we don't want to see permanent closure, because it's very hard to start these again… We have got to get our colleagues to understand, we need to act now on this legislation.” Video from the hearing is HERE.
Steven Severin, the President of the Washington Nightlife Music Association (WANMA), said: “This is a huge win for us. The fact that nobody knew our names or the phrase ‘Independent Venues’ and then you have people like Sen. Cantwell talk about WANMA and Save Our Stages in a D.C. hearing?... I’m ecstatic. I’m in tears. I’m exhausted. I’m grateful. I watched a few dozen people make a full time job with no payment to make this happen. That’s some serious dedication, passion, and fight to Save Our Stages so we can get back to doing what we do. This allows us to help the entire ecosystem of the music industry.”
Specifically, Section 324 of the COVID relief bill, Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators:
Authorizes $15 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to eligible live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theater operators, or talent representatives who demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in revenues.
Sets aside $2 billion for eligible entities that employ 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Allows SBA to make an initial grant of up to $10 million dollars to an eligible person or entity and a supplemental grant that is equal to 50 percent of the initial grant.
Directs the SBA to award grants only to eligible entities that have faced 90 percent or greater revenue loss in the first two weeks, and only to eligible entities that have faced 70 percent or greater revenue loss in the two weeks after that. After the first month, grants can be awarded to all other eligible entities.
Specifies that grants will be used for specified expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment.
Requires the SBA Administrator to conduct increased oversight of eligible persons and entities receiving these grants.
More response from our Congressional delegation voting in favor of the $900 billion covid 19. that the President wisely Sent back to congress today, with a veto treat:
Kilmer Votes for Critical COVID-19 Relief, Secures Funding for Regional Priorities
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support an COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending bill (“omnibus”) consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, coronavirus relief, and authorizations. The legislation passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. press release dated 12.21.20
Senator Murray Secures Much Needed Assistance for Families and Small Business Owners in Washington State, Pushes for More COVID Relief in New Year. Dated 12.22.20
Editorial note: Apparently they were okay spending billion of dallors on spend on non-covid matters, or sending out an insulting $600 bucks! Fortunately President Trump saw this bill for what it was Sent back to congress treating a veto, fortunely, not all Democrats favored this bill
Hawaii Sen. Tulsi Gabbard had this to say...
https://www.facebook.com/mediaresearchcenter/videos/1736007526566621
The President speech about his comments about the bill
https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/videos/437509910719062
(2)
COVID-19 quarantine guidance updated as new strain of coronavirus circulates in some countries
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is updating quarantine guidance for some travelers and planning to test flight crews arriving from some countries where a new variant of COVID-19 is circulating.
Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation requiring all people who travel to Washington state from these countries, which include the United Kingdom and South Africa, to quarantine for 14 days after arriving. The proclamation follows a travel advisory the governor issued last month recommending a 14-day quarantine for all interstate and international travel.
Additionally, people who enter Washington after travel to the U.K. or South Africa should get tested if they develop symptoms. If no symptoms develop, they should get tested five to seven days after leaving the U.K. or South Africa.
Scientists have seen many genetic variations of the virus as it continues to spread throughout the world, but not all changes are significant from a public health perspective. With any new strain, public health officials are looking at whether the strain causes more serious illness or allows the virus to spread more easily. Variations in new strains could also impact the effectiveness of the tests and vaccines currently being used, but to what degree they could be impacted is currently unknown.
U.K. health officials say the new strain may spread more easily, but they are not seeing more serious illness or an impact on vaccine effectiveness at this time.
"This is not the time for panic; it is the time for patience. Our information about this new strain is still limited, and we need to stay the course with our current efforts to control the spread of the virus while we learn more," said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, secretary of health at DOH. "We are tracking new developments closely and will continue to adjust our recommendations and response as needed."
Plans for testing flight crews arriving from impacted countries are still in development. DOH will provide more info as it becomes available.
Current quarantine guidance includes these options:
1. Stay in quarantine for 14 days after your last contact. This is the safest option. Monitor your symptoms during this time, and if you have any COVID-19 symptoms during the 14 days, get tested. Certain high-risk settings or groups should use the 14 day quarantine option:
People who have recently been in countries where the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 501Y.V, has been identified.
People who work or stay in an acute or long-term healthcare setting,
People who work or stay in a correctional facility,
People who work or stay in a shelter or transitional housing,
People who live in communal housing such as dormitories, fraternities or sororities,
People who work in crowded work situations where physical distancing is impossible due to the nature of the work such as in a warehouse or factory,
People who work on fishing or seafood processing vessels.
2. If this is not possible, stay in quarantine for 10 days after your last contact, without additional testing. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms during the 10 days, stay in quarantine the full 14 days and get tested. Keep watching for symptoms until day 14.
3. Under special circumstances it may be possible to end quarantine after 7 full days beginning after your last contact and after receiving a negative result from a test (get tested no sooner than 48 hours before ending quarantine.) This will depend on availability of testing resources. Keep watching for symptoms until day 14.
The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.
(3) TODAY'S HEADLINES:
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Central African Republic: UN rights office warns of ‘escalating violence’ ahead of Sunday poll.--UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080772
Press freedom more important than ever, as UN condemns killing of 59 media workers.
At least 59 media workers have been killed this year, four of them women, the UN said on Wednesday, in a call to stand up for access to information and factual reporting “as a public good”.--UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080802
Uganda: UN food assistance program hit as COVID-19 dries up funding.
The UN World Food Program (WFP) will have to further reduce food rations and cash assistance for more than 1.2 million refugees in Uganda due to a funding shortfall, the agency has said, calling for urgent resources to sustain aid efforts. --UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080692
Imposing Sanctions and Visa Restrictions on Additional Individuals and Entities Undermining Belarusian Democracy---US STATE DEPT.
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
'Santa Todd' Goes Virtual to Provide Holiday Joy to Children--DOD
Todd Bishop started playing Santa Claus a couple years ago as a way to give back during the holidays, but things have changed quite a bit over the past year.
Justice Department Alleges Conditions at Iowa Institution for Individuals with Disabilities Violate the Constitution
The Justice Department today concluded an investigation into conditions at the Glenwood Resource Center (Glenwood), an institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities operated by the State of Iowa in Glenwood, Iowa.
DHS Warns American Businesses about Data Services and Equipment from Firms Linked to Chinese Government. DHS press release dated 12. 22.20
Canadian Man Extradited from Spain to Face Charges for Massive Psychic Mail Fraud Scheme
A Canadian citizen accused of operating a decades-long psychic mail fraud scheme was extradited to the United States and made his initial appearance today in federal court in Central Islip, New York, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced.--DOJ
BUSINESS & FINANCE:
Treasury Sanctions Additional Belarusian Regime Actors for Undermining Democracy--US TREASURY DEPT.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1222
Department of Justice Files Nationwide Lawsuit Against Walmart Inc. for Controlled Substances Act Violations
Complaint Alleges Company Unlawfully Dispensed and Distributed Prescription Opioids--DOJ
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending December 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 803,000, a decrease of
89,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 885,000 to
892,000. The 4-week moving average was 818,250, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average. The
previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 812,500 to 814,250.---DEPT. of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/ui-claims/20202328.pdf
Federal Reserve Board announces appointment of the chairs and deputy chairs of the Federal Reserve Banks for 2021--The Fed
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20201223a.htm
(4) OTHER HEADLINES
Trump Blasts Democrats for 'Wasteful' COVID Bill, Calls Out Its Most Ridiculous Spending, Threatens VETO--PJ MEDIA
Department of Homeland Security Fights Back Against China
New advisory provides helpful practices to follow when taking the risk of doing business with China.--American Spectator
https://spectator.org/dhs-advisory-china/
Trump in White House Address: 'Monstrous Fraud' Gave Biden Election--NewsMax
A ‘Disgrace’: Trump Threatens Veto Of Pork-Stuffed Blue-State Bailout ‘COVID’ Bill--The Federalist
TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE
Luke 2:11-14 (New King James Version)
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
REMINDER NO PAPER DEC 24- DEC 27
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
