TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
The undersigned organizations urge you to support the timely, targeted, and temporary liability relief provisions contained in S. 4317, the “SAFE TO WORK Act.” These crucial protections would safeguard healthcare workers, providers, and facilities, as well as businesses, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions against unfair lawsuits so they can continue to contribute to a safe and effective economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation is critically needed and should be enacted as soon as possible. To that end, we strongly urge you to support the inclusion of these provisions in a Phase IV COVID-19 relief package.
Healthcare workers and facilities continue to work tirelessly to protect us from COVID-19 and provide care and treatment to those who become ill. Likewise, businesses and non-profit organizations of all types and sizes continue to adapt in incredible ways to safely provide their communities with much-needed goods and services, in addition to keeping workers employed and the American economy afloat. But, as those workers and businesses keep our communities safe and provided for, our members and constituencies remain concerned that, despite doing their best to follow applicable government guidelines, they will be forced to defend against an onslaught of frivolous lawsuits. Unfortunately, this concern has already begun to materialize.
COVID-19-related lawsuits and their consequent exorbitant legal costs could deter entities from reopening and could ultimately cripple businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations both large and small. Furthermore, absent the proposed liability protections, many frontline healthcare workers and facilities, as well as manufacturers of critical personal protective equipment, would be punished for their efforts in the form of costly lawsuits.
The temporary and targeted liability relief provisions contained in S. 4317 are balanced and would ensure that unfair lawsuits against those who work to comply with applicable governmental guidelines do not impede the American people’s health, social, and economic recovery. Importantly, the protections contained in this legislation are limited in duration and scope. They are not permanent changes to federal law. Furthermore, they allow states to provide additional protections if they so choose and, critically, preserve reasonable recourse for those harmed by truly bad actors.
In the wake of prior crises, Congress came together to pass needed liability protections with strong bipartisan support because lawmakers understood the acute threat of lawsuits at moments of maximum economic vulnerability. That threat is present again now, perhaps more than ever. As such, now is the time for Congress to take strong action and provide a national baseline of protection during this national pandemic to stop a growing wave of lawsuits from inhibiting our return to a robust economy and healthy citizenry.
Sincerely,
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
AdvaMed - Advanced Medical Technology Association
Aeronautical Repair Station Association
Aerospace Industries Association
Agricultural Retailers Association
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Airlines for America
Airports Council International - North America
Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association
Alabama Retail Association
Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce
Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce
Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Alliance of Wisconsin Retailers
America's Health Insurance Plans
America's SBDC
American Academy of PAs
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN)
American Bakers Association
American Bankers Association
American Beverage Licensees (ABL)
American Business Conference
American Car Rental Association
American Chemistry Council
American Council for Capital Formation
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Council of Life Insurers
American Dental Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Forest and Paper Association
American Foundry Society
American Frozen Food Institute
American Gaming Association (AGA)
American Gas Association
American Health Care Association (AHCA) & National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Institute of CPAs
American International Automobile Dealers Association
American Medical Association
American Mold Builders Association
American Property Casualty Insurance Association
American Rental Association
American Resort Development Association
American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)
American Staffing Association
American Supply Association
American Tort Reform Association
American Trucking Associations (ATA)
American Veterinary Medical Association
AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology
Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce
Argentum
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association
Arizona Retailers Association
Arkansas Hospitality Association
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA
Asian American Hotel Owners Association
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated Builders and Contractors - Greater Tennessee
Associated Builders and Contractors - South Texas Chapter
Associated Builders and Contractors Central California Chapter
Associated Builders and Contractors of New Mexico
Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego
Associated Builders and Contractors of Western PA
Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin
Associated Equipment Distributors
Associated General Contractors of America
Associated Wire Rope Fabricators
Association of Lodging Professionals
Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry
Association of Washington Business
Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Auto Care Association
Automotive Recyclers Association
Bandon Chamber of Commerce
Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Beer Institute
Bend Chamber of Commerce
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Biocom – Life Science Association of California
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Boise Metro Chamber
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin (BCAW)
Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce
Business Roundtable
Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau
California Hotel & Lodging Association
California Retailers Association
CAMBA and CAMBA Housing Ventures
Carson City Chamber of Commerce
CCIM Institute
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Central Chamber of Commerce
Central Fort Bend Chamber
Central LARegional Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Chamber Of Commerce Of Cape Coral
Chamber of Shipping of America
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce
Chehalem Chamber of Commerce
Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
Civil Justice Association of California
Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce
Coalition of Franchisee Associations
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
Colorado Retail Council
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN)
Committee of 100 for Economic Development
Community Associations Institute
Connecticut Lodging Association
Connecticut Retail Merchants Association
Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce
Construction Industry Round Table
Consumer Bankers Association
Consumer Technology Association
Convenience Distribution Association
Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers
Covington County Chamber of Commerce
Credit Union National Association
CTIA-The Wireless Association
Deadwood Gaming Association
Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Edison Electric Institute
Energy Equipment and Infrastructure Alliance
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA)
Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA)
Explore Charleston
Exton Region Chamber of Commerce
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce
Family Business Coalition
Federation of American Hospitals
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Justice Reform Institute
Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
Florida Retail Federation
FMI - The Food Industry Association
Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association
Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce
Forum for Community Leaders
Franchise Business Services
Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey
Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce
Gases and Welding Distributors Association
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association
Georgia Retailers
Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
Global Business Travel Association
Global Cold Chain Alliance
GPA Midstream Association
Granbury Chamber of Commerce
Graphic Arts Association
Graphic Media Alliance
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.
Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce
Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Topeka Partnership
Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ)
Healthcare Leadership Council
Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International
Hospitality Maine
Hospitality Minnesota
Hotel Association of New York City
Hotel Association of Washington DC
Humboldt Chamber of Commerce
Idaho Chamber Alliance
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Civil Justice League
Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Independent Bakers Association
Independent Electrical Contractors
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America
Independent Office Products & Furniture Dealers Alliance
Independent Petroleum Association of America
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association
Indianola Chamber of Commerce
Industrial Fasteners Institute
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
Institute of Real Estate Management
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
International Association of Plastics Distribution
International Caterers Association
International Council of Shopping Centers
International Dairy Foods Association
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Franchise Association
International Housewares Association
International Sign Association
International Warehouse Logistics Association
International Wood Products Association
Iowa Gaming Association
Iowa Retail Federation
Irrigation Association
ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Job Creators Network
Kansas Chamber & Kansas Retail Council
Keizer Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Retail Federation
Kentucky Travel Industry Association
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Klamath Falls Chamber of Commerce
Latino Hotel Association
Leading Builders of America
LeadingAge
LeadingAge Texas
League City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI)
Louisiana Casino Association
Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch
Louisiana Retailers Association
Lowcountry Hospitality Association
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Manufactured Housing Institute
Manufacturer & Business Association
Marana Chamber of Commerce
Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association
Maryland Retailers Association
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Massachusetts Lodging Association
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA)
Metals Service Center Institute
Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association
Michigan Retailers Association
Midwest Food Products Association
Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Retailers Association
Mississippi Economic Council - the State Chamber
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Missouri Retailers Association
Missouri Tire Industry Association
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Montana Lodging & Hospitality Association
Montana Manufacturing Association
Montana Retail Association
Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce
Motion Picture Association
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce
Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce
National Air Carrier Association
National Apartment Association
National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Association of Chemical Distributors
National Association of Electrical Distributors
National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
National Association of Security Companies (NASCO)
National Association of Theatre Owners
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
National Automobile Dealers Association
National Business Aviation Association
National Business Coalition on E-Commerce & Privacy
National Community Pharmacists Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Demolition Association
National Electrical Contractors Association
National Fastener Distributors Association
National Franchisee Association
National Grocers Association
National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA)
National Limousine Association
National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
National Marine Distributors Association
National Mining Association
National Multifamily Housing Council
National Ocean Industries Association
National Office Products Alliance
National Propane Gas Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Roofing Contractors Association
National RV Dealers Association (RVDA)
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Small Business Association
National Tooling and Machining Association
National Waste & Recycling Association
NC Chamber Legal Institute
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nebraska Grocery Industry Association
Nebraska Hotel & Lodging Association
Nebraska Retail Federation
Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association
Nevada Resort Association
New Hampshire Retail Association
New Jersey Civil Justice Institute
New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association
New Jersey Independent Electrical Contractors Association
New Jersey Motor Truck Association
New Jersey Retail Merchants Association
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry
New Mexico Retail Association
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
News Media Alliance
NFIB
NH Grocers Association
Norman Chamber of Commerce
North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM)
North American Die Casting Association
North American Meat Institute
North Carolina Chamber
North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
North Carolina Retail Merchants Association
North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce
North Country Chamber of Commerce
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
North Myrtle Beach Chamber/CVB
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association
Office Furniture Dealers Alliance
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association
Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association
Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association
Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association
Oregon State Chamber of Commerce
Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Pacific Printing Industries Association
Paperboard Packaging Council
Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association
Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
Pennsylvania Retailers Association
Pennsylvania's Americana Region Visitors Bureau
Pet Industry Distributors Association
Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI)
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Physician Assistant Education Association
PIA MidAmerica
PINE (Printing Industries of New England)
Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)
Plumbing Manufacturers International
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association
Portland Cement Association
Precision Machined Products Association
Precision Metalforming Association
Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia
Printing Industries Alliance
Printing Industries Association, Inc. of Southern California
Printing Industry Midwest
PRINTING United Alliance
Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)
Professional Beauty Association (PBA)
Reinsurance Association of America
Retail Association of Maine
Retail Association of Nevada
Retail Council of New York State
Retail Merchants of Hawaii
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
Rhode Island Hospitality Association
Round Rock Chamber
Rowlett Chamber of Commerce
RV Industry Association
S Corporation Association
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
SC Retail Association
SC Trucking Association
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)
Security Hardware Distributors Association
Shelton-Mason County Chamber
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Society for Human Resource Management
Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS)
Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
South Dakota Retailers Association
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Southern Oregon Solutions
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Area Hotel Association
St. Louis Regional Chamber
State Chamber of Oklahoma
Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce
Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, Inc. (TLMI)
Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce
TechNet
Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Texas Alliance for Patient Access
Texas Civil Justice League
Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
Texas Retailers Association
The Aluminum Association
The American Waterways Operators
The Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution
The Chamber Grand Forks / East Grand Forks
The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce
The Fertilizer Institute
The Hardwood Federation
The Longview Chamber
The Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce
The Printing Industry of the Carolinas, Inc.
The Real Estate Roundtable
The Transportation Alliance
The Travel Technology Association
Tile Roofing Industry Alliance
Truck Renting and Leasing Association
Tulsa Regional Chamber
Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce
Umatilla Chamber of Commerce
Utah Tourism Industry Association
Vail Valley Partnership
Vegas Chamber
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Victor Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association
Virginia Retail Federation
Virginia Retail Merchants Association
Washington Hospitality Association
Washington Liability Reform Coalition
Washington Retail Association
West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association
Western Equipment Dealers Association
Western Garfield County Chamber of Commerce
Western Growers
Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA)
Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association
Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
Window and Door Manufacturers Association
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Wisconsin Agri-Business Association
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council
Wisconsin Dairy Alliance
Wisconsin Grocers Association
Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association
Wisconsin Independent Businesses
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Worldwide ERC®
WV Retailers Association
Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association
