Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) today released the following statement after the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act passed in the House of Representatives:

“As a small business owner for over 40 years, I understand employers are facing tough decisions as they prioritize the health and safety of their workforce while also trying to maintain payroll and overhead costs. This is why I have fought to increase funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. This program was created to save jobs and help small businesses that have suffered losses due to the coronavirus outbreak. Demand for this program has been overwhelming, which is why funding ran out in a matter of weeks. But instead of passing a measure that was ready to go over a week ago, in a partisan, political stunt, Democrat leadership delayed the additional funding.

“So far, the Paycheck Protection Program has been successful in helping to keep our small businesses afloat, and the Democrats should have never played political games with the livelihoods of workers and businesses who need access to these emergency loans immediately.

“Despite the unnecessary delay, I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement to provide nearly $500 billion for small businesses, hospitals and healthcare providers, as well as funding to expand testing. The bill also expands eligibility for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to include agricultural enterprises with less than 500 employees, which is great news for our farmers in Georgia’s 12th District.”

Included in the legislation is funding for:

Small Businesses

• $310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s successful Paycheck Protection Program, which will continue providing forgivable loans to cover the cost of payroll and operating expenses for small businesses. 
• $60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s economic injury disaster loans and grants, including $50 billion for economic injury disaster loans - each loan can be up to $2 million with interest rates not to exceed 4% and long-term repayment periods of up to 30 years; and $10 billion for grants of up to $10,000 that do not have to be repaid. 
• Additional funds are provided for the Small Business Administration to administer these programs.

Hospitals and Healthcare Providers

• $75 billion to support the heroes on the front lines of this crisis and our healthcare system, including additional funding to reimburse hospitals and healthcare providers for lost revenues and expenses related to the outbreak.

Testing

• $25 billion to expand testing, which will provide information on where cases are occurring, and support continued efforts to reopen communities and reignite our record-breaking economy.