Regional Chamber Supports Inclusion of Liability Protections in Next COVID-19 Federal Aid Package

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce supports the inclusion of liability protection for businesses in the next COVID-19 Federal Aid Bill.

Chamber President & CEO, Lori Mattson, sent a letter on May 21 to U.S. Senators Patty Murry and Maria Cantwell as well as Congressman Dan Newhouse in support of the protections.

“Many businesses and organizations are concerned about reopening due to the risk associated with being held liable if one of their employees contracts coronavirus after coming back to work,” the letter reads. “If we want to see businesses reopen, conditions must be created to provide some level of certainty. A myriad of lawsuits will pour salt in the deep wounds that employers have recently suffered.

“As we begin to restart the economy, the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce urges your support of legislation that will create legal protections for businesses and nonprofits who are in compliance with health guidelines.”

The Regional Chamber supports liability protections for the following three reasons:

1. It’s pro-business
2. Liability protection provides some certainty to businesses in uncertain times
3. Businesses following state and federal guidelines should be confident in getting back to business
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“As the voice for Tri-City business, the Chamber urges the U.S. Senate to include liability protections in the next COVID-19 aid bill,” said Mattson. “We know there is a huge lobby against tort reform, but we cannot sit back and watch COVID-related litigation go unchecked without speaking up for business throughout our region.”