Amusement Park Buzz

H.R. 7883, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, which will provide $500 million in grant funding to state, county and local fair organizations has been introduced by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-20th/CA) and Billy Long (R-7th/MO). Ensuring that fair organizations have adequate resources to re-start their hosting of events for 2021 is critical to the recovery of the outdoor amusement industry.

Fair supporters, carnivals, and concessionaires should immediately contact their U.S. Representative and ask them to 1) become a co-sponsor* of House bill 7883, and 2) express to House Leadership this language should be included in COVID relief package now being considered.

The bi-partisan legislation, if passed and signed into law, would provide grant funding to rescue fair organizations:

• This bill provides $500 million in Agricultural Fair Rescue Grants to agricultural fairs, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
  
  
• AMS will provide the grant funding to states or state departments of agriculture based on the loss of attendance those fairs have experienced in 2020 when compared to 2019.
  
  
• The states or state department will then be required to make grants to fairs, prioritizing those that have faced the greatest financial hardship.
  
  
• Grants must be used to assist fairs to continue events that are drivers and promoters of agribusiness.
  
  
• Eligible fairs are local, county, or state fair that helps farmers promote their products or expand agricultural markets through conservation programs, agricultural research, educational programs, or other events that encourage agriculture, horticulture, and the domestic arts.

As of August 16, 16 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.  To show your support for the fair and carnival industry, please reach out to your member of congress and ask him/her to become a co-sponsor of HR 7883.  You may find your U.S. Representative in the House by visiting the US House web site.

*Members of Congress may contact Mark Dennin in Congressman Panetta's office at mark.dennin@mail.house.gov  or Ben Elleson in Congressman Long's office at ben.elleson@mail.house.gov  to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 7883.