RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Small Business Committee who has been calling on the Senate to bolster funding for thenewly-created and vital small business emergency relief program—called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked additional and critically-needed funding for it:
“After hearing from Iowans and seeing the overwhelming response of small businesses across the country, it’s clear we need to bolster the Paycheck Protection Program. We don’t have time for political games; we’re in a crisis. Workers and employers in Iowa and across the country need this relief now more than ever, so let’s put aside the politics and swiftly get this specific additional support for small businesses approved so money can keep flowing, Iowa workers can continue to collect a paycheck, and our state’s small businesses can stay afloat,” said Senator Ernst.
Senator Ernst continues to be in constant communication with Iowans from every corner and county of the state to ensure folks are receiving the support they need, including the state’s families, small business owners, health care workers, and more. She hosted a telephone town hall yesterday with Iowa small businesses and has participated inseveralQ&Asessions over the last few days, connecting with hundreds of Iowans.
As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Ernst fought hard to ensure small businesses were a priority in the Phase 3 relief package. Highlighted below are a number of the emergency relief measures Ernst successfully included in the bipartisan Phase 3 package that help support Iowa’s small businesses:
- Protecting workers and small businesses by allowing local banks and credit unions to provide federally-backed loans for small businesses to keep their employees on payroll and to pay bills; loans can be forgiven if they maintain payroll.
- Expanding loan access to child care providers, non-profits, and businesses with less than 500 employees.
Background on Ernst’s efforts to combat COVID-19:
Senator Ernst has fought to deliver relief to all Iowans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of her efforts:
- Calledfor bolstering the small business emergency loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Deliveredmajor wins for Iowa’s workers, employers, health care industry, and more in the bipartisan Phase 3 package.
- Supported the “Phase 1” bipartisan package to provide additional resources to federal, state and local authorities.
- Helped passthe “Phase 2” bill to provide paid sick leave, free COVID-19 diagnostic testing, and increased support for nutrition for seniors and children.
- Calledfor an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Urgedthe Senate to prioritize relief for hospitals, community health centers, and workers on the front lines.
- Announceda proposal to immediately redirect the over $350M in the Presidential Campaign Election Fund to be used to purchase specialized face masks and personal protective equipment.
- Askedthe State Department to immediately act to get Iowans stranded abroad back home.
- Soughttariff relief for Iowa’s businesses by calling on Treasury to defer all tariffs during the pandemic.
- UrgedUSDA to provide additional funding for Iowa’s biofuels industry negatively impacted by COVID-19.
- Tookquestions from Iowans in Dubuque and Siouxland areas on COVID-19 relief.
- Answeredquestions from Iowans in Quad Cities area on COVID-19 relief.
- Continuedto listen to and answer questions from small businesses across the state.
- Calledon two federal health agencies to protect Iowa’s Medicare beneficiaries from high-risk settings and ensure safe access to care as we continue to work to combat COVID-19.
- Helda telephone town hall with thousands of Iowans to help answer some questions and hear directly from folks.
- Hosted another telephone town hall with Iowa’s seniors and elderly community.
- Participatedin discussions at the State Emergency Operations Center with Governor Kim Reynolds.
- JoinedGovernor Reynolds at her press conference to give an update on federal relief efforts.
- Discussedthe need to work together – at federal, state, and local level – to tackle COVID-19.
- Publisheda column on everyone doing their part to protect seniors and fellow Iowans from COVID-19.
- Penneda second column outlining the federal relief packages Congress passed and reminding Iowans we will get through this, together.
For additional information for Iowans on COVID-19, you can visit Senator Ernst’s website, which includes resources forfamilies and individuals, small businesses, andseniors.