Meanwhile, NFIB Issues Legislative Plan for the Survival of America’s Small Businesses
NFIB, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, hosted an informational webinar with Rep. Estes. The Congressman connected with Kansas small business owners, giving them the latest information about what’s going on in Washington D.C. and how Congress is helping small business owners in Kansas during this coronavirus crisis. The Congressman addressed the fact that funding for the federal coronavirus relief program, the Paycheck Protection Program, has been depleted. You can watch the telefourum here.
“Small businesses are the economic engine of this country, and their survival during this unprecedented crisis is critical. That’s why Congress made it a priority to provide stability and relief through the Paycheck Protection Program,” said Rep. Ron Estes. “It was great to discuss the details of the program with House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Steve Chabot and Kansas small businesses this week, and to reiterate the importance of authorizing more funding for this popular program in a clean bill.”
Meanwhile, today NFIB issued a “Legislative Plan for Small Business Survival,” today, that included ten prescriptive recommendations to help ensure more small businesses survive the coronavirus crisis and more quickly return to normal business operations once restrictions are lessened.
“Our small business owners here in Kansas are the lifeblood of the economy. The problem is: many of them are shut down or seeing a drastic drop in revenue. Right now they’re fighting to stay open but they need help from Congress,” said NFIB State Director in Kansas, Dan Murray. “While the roll out of the Paycheck Protection Program has been frustrating and confusing for many of our members, this plan shows a way forward and an opportunity for Congress to help our small owners make it through this crisis.”
The plan includes recommendations for improving the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, ending costly mandates, and making regulatory compliance simpler. These recommendations include:
- Extend Paycheck Protection program and Make Sure the Smallest Employers Get Help.
- Increase flexibility for forgivable loan terms in the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Prohibit Discrimination Against Small Employers in the Paycheck Protection Program.
- End the Costly COVID-19 Mandates on Small Businesses for Paid Sick Leave and Extended Family and Medical Leave on May 31, 2020.
- Fully Fund the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and Improve the Related Grant Program.
- Recognize the Limits to the Ability of Small Businesses to Learn of and Comply with Laws and Regulations.
- Tapered Transition Out of Programs After COVID-19 No Longer Represents a Significant Threat to Public Health.
- Narrowly-tailor Any New Requirements Related to the Reopening to Account for the Realities of Different Industries and Business Sizes.
- Require Each Agency to Conduct a Regulatory Look-Back Review.
- Statement of Policy from Congress on the Future of Small Businesses.
The executive summary and full plan can be found here and here.
