On March 6, the Senate voted to pass President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. In a vote of 220-211, on Wednesday, March 10, the House passed the American Rescue Plan Act, as amended by the Senate. The bill now goes to the President’s desk, where he plans to sign it into law on March 12.
Although Congress failed to include direct relief for the health and fitness industry in this bill, there remains hope for financial assistance. In the recent industry action event, United We Rise – Stronger Than Ever, GYMS Act champion, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), said, “I appreciate all of you who have helped bring support to the legislation, and this is not the end of the road … I will continue to do what I can to push for this financial support until your facilities receive the assistance they need.”
The support and assistance from the collective health and fitness industry and its members were important in gaining Congress’s attention.
The latest co-sponsors of the GYMS Act include U.S. Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Don Young (R-AK), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), and Ed Perlmutter (D-CO).
From March 2020 to December 31, 2020, health and fitness clubs, gyms and studios lost $20.4 billion in revenue, a 58 percent decline from 2019. Because of the pandemic, 44 percent of fitness professionals, or 1.4 million employees, lost their jobs, and as of December 31, 2020, 17 percent of facilities have permanently closed. Without relief, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, estimates that one in four fitness-related businesses could close their doors.
“IHRSA and the NHFA have been working tenaciously to get the collective health and fitness industry involved in all campaigns relating to the GYMS Act. We noticed a recent spike in activity that led to a number of representatives signing on,” said Jeff Perkins, IHRSA’s assistant vice president of government relations. “It’s imperative that the industry continues to inundate Congress with messages and push the GYMS Act inclusion in the next relief package. IHRSA is willing to assist health and fitness clubs with their advocacy efforts in any way related to the GYMS Act.”
