Dear SC Staffing Association Member:
I am government affairs counsel for the American Staffing Association, and I am seeking your immediate assistance for the benefit of the staffing industry in light of Covid-19.
As previously reported to ASA members, and in order to address staffing firms’ liquidity issues in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, ASA is asking Congress to afford the industry priority status for financial assistance. ASA is also asking that the date by which firms will need to rehire employees for the purpose of loan forgiveness under the Payroll Protection Plan be extended from June 30 to at least Aug. 31. This will allow staffing firms additional time to reassign employees whose assignments were ended by clients during the slowdown.
ASA lobbyists from Squire Patton Boggs are engaging with legislators every day, but we need your help! Please assist us by doing the following:
  1. Let us know of any personal connections that you have on Capitol Hill that you will commit to contacting regarding this issue. Congressmen, senators, and key staff members are all main targets.
  2. Reach out to your contacts, talk to them about the industry-specific relief that we are requesting, and explain to them that the continued viability of staffing firms (and thus millions of jobs) is at risk.
  3. If you don’t have any special contacts, please email or call your legislators today—time is of the essence. Find contact information for your representative here, and find your senators here. Please be sure to copy our lobbyists, Jack Kingston (jack.kingston@squirepb.com) and Brandon Roman (brandon.roman@squirepb.com), on your emails. They will follow up with the representatives and senators. Also, please copy me at tmalara@americanstaffing.net.
Time is of the essence. Please engage in outreach as soon as you can.
Thank you for your prompt attention and engagement.
Toby Malara
ASA Government Affairs Counsel
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Sample Talking Points/Email
My name is {Insert name}, and I am {Insert job title and agency name}
My staffing firm ... [add below suggested information]
  • Years in business
  • Location(s)
  • Number of internal staff
  • Number of temporary employees placed each year
  • Types of jobs filled
  • Types of clients/industries served, particularly critical industries such as grocery and food services, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and distribution, airlines, and pharmaceuticals
I am reaching out to you about a critical issue—my staffing firm’s ability to stay in business in light of Covid-19. As result of the novel Coronavirus, my firm:
  • Has seen job orders decline by [insert number]
  • Has seen revenue decline by [insert number]
Absent additional assistance from the federal government, these losses will continue; my firm risks going under, and [insert number] workers will lose their jobs.
Therefore, I respectfully request that you take the following actions now:
  • Establish priority status for the staffing industry for general loans available to businesses
  • Extend the covered period in the Payroll Protection Act from June 30, 2020, to at least Aug. 31, 2020; this will afford my business much-needed time to rehire and reassign our temporary employees who were displaced due to the pandemic
Thank you for your consideration.
Questions about this ASA Issue Alert?
Contact: Toby Malara
Government Affairs Counsel
703-253-2027

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