Georgia’s leaders are pushing for additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program which offers forgivable loans to help small businesses pay their employees and remain solvent through the COVID-19 crisis.
On Friday, U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) publicly urged his colleagues to pass additional funding for the program that already helped nearly 50,00 Georgia businesses and allowed them to keep workers employed during these unprecedented times.
Governor Brian Kemp is also calling on Congress to pass additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which ran out of money last week. And this weekend, State Senator John Albers (R-Roswell) took to social media to make his plea to Congress.
“The COVID-19 crisis has caused staggering cash flow and liquidity challenges for businesses across the country,” said Sen. Perdue. “Many business owners are considering laying off employees and closing their doors, and we cannot let that happen. The Paycheck Protection Program offers a bridge to help small businesses weather this crisis.
“The timely extension of the Paycheck Protection Program is critical to our long-term economic security. Congress must put aside individual political interests and pass additional relief for the businesses and workers who are depending on us. I urge my colleagues to act right now, so millions of Americans can receive paychecks instead of pink slips.”
In Georgia, the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved over 48,000 PPP loans, totaling nearly $9.5 billion, before funding lapsed only two weeks in. Senate Republicans introduced a bill to add $250 billion to the initial $349 billion in funding. Unfortunately, the measure was blocked by Senate Democrats, Perdue said.
Since the passage of the CARES Act, Senator Perdue said has spoken daily with small business owners and local community lenders about bridging the gap for the business community in order to support Georgia workers and their families.
“While small businesses across the United States are reeling from the impact of COVID-19 on our economy, this is no time for partisan games,” said Gov. Kemp. “The Paycheck Protection Program has provided a $9.5 billion lifeline to businesses right here in the Peach State. Those
funds give critical relief to job creators in Georgia and throughout the country, ensuring they can keep employees on the payroll, sustain operations, and ultimately weather this crisis.
“I join with President Trump, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy in urging Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, and the Democrats to immediately return to Washington and replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and they will be a key component of our strategy to safely reopen in the coming weeks. During these challenging times, we owe them nothing less than our absolute support,” said Kemp.
Sen. Albers has joined the push — through his social media accounts. This weekend Albers posted that he “stresses with great concern the U.S. Congress return immediately to fund the Paycheck Protection Program.”
“Small businesses are in dire need of assistance and are the blood of our state and nation,” Albers said. “This is not a time for politics and special interest in Washington D.C. Stop fooling around with partisan politics and pass the additional funds now.”
While most Georgia Democrats seem to be pretty silent about the issue, a Facebook posting by Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) makes it appear she went against Speaker Nancy Pelosi on this issue. McBath posted, “Small business (sic) have given us so much – and during this pandemic when their businesses are suffering, it is time we have their backs.” McBath went on to say she cosponsored bipartisan legislation that provides additional relief to small businesses. A one-pager on the legislation states that Rep. Kilmer (D-WA) and Rep. Herrera Beutler (R-WA) are introducing the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act.
McBath apparently posted this after her opponent, former Congressman Karen Handel, stressed the importance of extending the funding on her Facebook.
