Advocacy News

07.07.20

On Friday, July 3, 2020, the president has signed S.4116, a bill that temporarily extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through August 8. This bill moved very quickly through Congress in response to the small business program’s expiration on June 30. The PPP has been instrumental in keeping many small business contractors afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

06.04.20

On Wednesday afternoon, June 3, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed legislation loosening restrictions for borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program. H.R.7010 is headed to the White House as of press time where the President is expected to sign the bill into law.

05.28.20

Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced legislation to improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses that have taken advantage of the SBA program to help keep their companies afloat and employees on the payroll in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

05.28.20

On May 15, H.R.6800 (the HEROES Act) passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a party-line vote. It is a 1,815-page bill that primarily serves two purposes...

05.14.20

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced “Phase 4” legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. H.R.6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, is a $3 trillion comprehensive spending package.

05.06.20

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has added an Item 40 to their list of FAQ's expanding on the topic of PPP loan forgiveness. Some employers are finding laid-off workers declining return-to-work offers when those workers are receiving greater pay through un-employment.

04.28.20

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced it has ended its temporary non-enforcement of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Department had allowed a grace period to allow employers to comply with the Act’s requirements, particularly with the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family and Medical Expanded Leave Act (EFMELA). A list of updated FAQs clarifies several points.

04.28.20

Roughly two weeks after President Trump signed the CARES Act into law to inject $2.3 trillion into the U.S. economy to keep it afloat, the $350 billion allocated for small business assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) dried up within two weeks. As of close-of-business Wednesday, April 15, more than 1½ million small businesses were approved for $324 billion in loans. The fund was completely depleted the following day.

04.28.20

The President signed legislation last week to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other emergency loan programs. Congressional leaders agreed to the deal after two weeks of negotiations over differences on whether to use federal funds for Coronavirus relief efforts for state and local governments, in addition to prioritizing PPP loans for minority-, women- and veteran-owned small businesses.

04.21.20

Congressional leaders agreed to a deal to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. If the Senate approves the legislation, the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act of 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives could pass the bill before the end of the week and have it ready for the President’s signature.