Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Bill to Give Lifeline to Wisconsin Winter Businesses Impacted by Warm Weather
Baldwin bill ensures small businesses impacted by low snowfall are eligible for disaster relief
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced her Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act, with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Gary Peters (D-MI). This bipartisan legislation would ensure businesses that rely on winter weather can get disaster relief during mild winters that do not produce enough snow. Baldwin’s legislation comes as last winter was Wisconsin’s warmest winter on record, causing businesses across Wisconsin to suffer losses and to close or cut staff due to the lack of visitors that are usually drawn to the area for seasonal recreation. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) cosponsor the legislation.
“Snow droughts pose a significant threat to Maine’s winter businesses, whose financial stability are largely dependent on natural snowfall levels,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would add snow droughts to the list of recognized disasters under the Small Business Act, providing winter businesses a new tool to manage these unpredictable and costly seasons.”
The Winter Recreation Small Business Recovery Act would ensure that during winters with a snow drought, small businesses are eligible for disaster relief through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Injury Disaster Loans. This existing loan program at SBA is designed to provide small businesses with the funds they need to operate while they recover from a natural or other disaster. Under current law, qualifying disasters include droughts and ice storms or blizzards, but do not account for winters without enough snow.
Last winter, Senator Baldwin and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers successfully pushed the SBA to ensure that Northern Wisconsin businesses hurt by last winter’s low snowfall could access disaster coverage. However, without Baldwin’s bill, low snowfall remains off the list of eligible natural or other disasters that businesses can use to apply for SBA relief.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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