Pappas Calls on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Support Local Communities and Small Businesses in New Hampshire

Manchester, NH - As negotiations continue on the next coronavirus response package, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), called on members of both parties to come together and pass meaningful support for families, local communities, and small businesses in New Hampshire.

"As we develop another coronavirus response package, both sides need to continue working together and put the interests of American families, workers, and small business owners at the forefront of these negotiations," said Congressman Chris Pappas."First responders and frontline workers are putting themselves on the line each and every day, while millions of Americans have seen their daily lives and livelihoods upended. We owe it to all of our constituents to advance bipartisan legislation that provides continued relief to the individuals and communities that are devastated by the pandemic. I will continue to call for greater resources and flexibility to support local governments' response efforts as well as additional federal dollars for our small businesses struggling to stay afloat. This pandemic is a public health crisis and an economic crisis. The health and well-being of Granite Staters must always guide our response efforts in the coming weeks and months."

Pappas is working with leaders from both parties and the New Hampshire congressional delegation to deliver additional support for the Granite State's struggling Main Street economy. In March, Pappas introduced the Too Small to Fail Act to provide immediate cash and zero interest loans to small businesses. In a letter today to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, he urged them to provide greater resources to local communities and to streamline and strengthen the small business lending programs included in the last coronavirus relief package.

Full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy:

My constituents appreciate your leadership in quickly securing passage of the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), which will provide billions in desperately-needed federal aid to New Hampshire families, workers, and businesses. However, our job is far from complete. We must continue working cooperatively across the aisle to quickly deliver relief to the American people. As you develop the next coronavirus legislative package, I write to urge you to continue to prioritize the urgent needs of local communities and small businesses.

Specifically, I urge your consideration of the following policies to support New Hampshire's Main Street economy at this exceptionally challenging time for our state and our nation:

• Dramatically increase support for state and local governments, recognizing the mounting budgetary pressures that cities and towns in New Hampshire are facing as well as the crucial role they continue to play in combating the virus. Congress should also allow communities under 500,000 residents to access direct federal support and provide maximum flexibility for state and local governments to use federal funds for critical services.
  
• Increase funding and extend the 8-week loan forgiveness window to enable the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to better meet the needs of New Hampshire small businesses and expand availability to low-interest lending through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL).
  
• Streamline the application processes, ease some of the most restrictive terms, provide more clarity and transparency, and ensure that these essential loans quickly reach New Hampshire small business owners anxiously awaiting federal assistance. For example, limitations on the use of PPP funding for non-payroll expenses should be relaxed to provide greater flexibility to small businesses to meet their specific needs.
  
• Designate resources specifically for community lenders and ensure that small businesses without a pre-existing relationship with a participating financial institution can still take advantage of the PPP.
  
• Include language in the next coronavirus relief package to enable local chambers of commerce and other 501(c)6 organizations that support the needs of small businesses to access direct federal aid.

Again, the CARES Act is already making a significant positive difference. However, additional support for local communities and small businesses is essential in the difficult weeks and months ahead. Thank you for your attention to this request and your diligent and committed work during this crisis.

Sincerely,

Chris Pappas
Member of Congress