The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently held a listening session to hear the public’s thoughts on whether additional H-2B visas should be made available to employers.  GCSAA has consistently argued that superintendents need access to these additional visas, approved by Congress last year, as golf plays a greater role during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Rounds are up and superintendents are working longer hours to ensure the best playing conditions.

Congress has approved an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), making it available for small businesses for a greater period of time.  The PPP’s application deadline was originally set to expire March 31.  Under the “PPP Extension Act of 2021”, small businesses can now apply for these loans for two additional months, through May 31.   The Act passed both houses of Congress by wide, bipartisan margins and is expected to be signed by the President before the current deadline expires.

I recently presented on advocacy topics to an audience of the Connecticut Environmental Council (CTEC). Topics covered were policy issues at the state level impacting golf course superintendents and how to communicate with legislators and staff regarding those issues.

On March 10, the United States Senate voted to confirm Michael Regan as President Joe Biden's pick to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The vote was 66 to 34.

Congress has passed and President Biden is expected to sign into law, the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” (American Rescue Plan), a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package aimed at addressing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.    Many of the provisions of the American Rescue Plan are similar to those found in prior stimulus bills passed by Congress.  Funds are provided for greater access to vaccines and testing as before.    And popular assistance programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program receive additional funding, as well.  However, there are some changes from prior stimulus efforts, as well.  Details are discussed below. 

GCSAA’s Government Affairs Department Director Chava McKeel was an invited guest to spend time on Friday, February 19 speaking with senior leadership from the U.S. EPA Office of Water, including Radhika Fox, OW’s new Acting Assistant Administrator. The Biden-Harris Administration is making a priority for federal agency leadership to collaborate with all stakeholders to advance the work of the Administration. This outreach is just a first step in building  closer relationship with this information EPA Office.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America joined a group of national specialty pesticide and fertilizer and other green industry associations to sign onto two letters to U.S. Senate committees of jurisdiction urging confirmation of Secretary-elect Michael Regan as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Honorable Thomas Vilsack as Secretary-elect of the United States Department of Agriculture.

A bill was recently introduced in the Montana statehouse that would have changed the treatment of golf courses in the state’s tax code by essentially doubling their commercial property tax rate.   

President-elect Joe Biden has indicated his choices for many of the top-level positions in his incoming administration.  Many of these nominees will impact the water, pesticide and labor issues that comprise GCSAA’s Priority Issues Agenda.  Not all nominees require confirmation by the United States Senate but those that do may find their hearings delayed:  The Senate will be unable to conduct most business until the results of the January 5 runoff races for the two Senate seats in Georgia are known. 

President Trump has signed into a law the $900 billion fiscal stimulus package and $1.4 trillion omnibus appropriations bill aimed at relieving effects of the pandemic and funding the federal government through fall of 2021.

Updated 1/11/2021: Georgia Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeated incumbent GOP Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, respectively. Both Loeffler and Perdue conceded to their Democratic opponents late last week. With the Senate victories, the chamber is now split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, giving the Democrats control of the Senate.

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As President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris prepare to assume office, GCSAA has joined its allies on the H-2B Workforce Coalition to make sure they know how essential the H-2B visa program is to seasonal industries like golf.  GCSAA has co-signed a letter to them that emphasizes the importance of the program in providing temporary, legal workers to employers who have exhausted efforts elsewhere.  The letter sends a valuable message to the incoming Administration.