House Should Vote on PPP Deadline Before July 4th

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement calling on House leadership to bring up a vote on the application extension for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) - which expired yesterday - before this session adjourns for the 4th of July.

"The PPP has been a lifeline for businesses in New Hampshire and across the country," said Congressman Pappas. "It has helped more than 4.8 million small businesses weather this unprecedented time and kept workers employed during this historic public health and economic crisis – including more than 23,000 businesses here in New Hampshire. I was pleased that the Senate passed an extension of this vital program last night and thank Senator Shaheen for her leadership. Now it is time for the House to act. As we approach the holiday weekend, the House should also vote to extend the application window so that struggling small businesses get the help they need. As a small business owner, I know that you don't punch out until the job is done, and extending PPP should be part of our job today. It would be devastating for Main Street businesses who have yet to apply for this assistance to lose that chance, even as funds remain for the PPP and the pandemic continues. Congress can and must extend the deadline for applications and not leave our businesses and workers waiting."

After voting for the CARES Act, which established the PPP, Pappas repeatedly called on House leadership of both parties to come together and pass stopgap legislation to get additional help to Main Street small businesses and workers in New Hampshire. He voted for the bipartisan stopgap deal to expand the PPP, support small businesses and hospitals, and ramp up testing for COVID-19. Pappas has been relentless in his calls to make the PPP work better for all small businesses, after conversations with over 200 New Hampshire business leaders and 12 telephone town halls reaching over 100,000 participants. He joined the NH delegation in calling on the SBA and Treasury Department to provide better guidelines for lenders, and he spoke on the House floor in May calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, a bill he cosponsored which would make the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) more effective for Granite State small businesses. He has also introduced legislation to allow local Chambers of Commerce and non-profits to be eligible for the PPP as they work to support Main Street businesses.