National

​Today, Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, and 114 state, local, and federal business organizations sent a letter to Congress urging them to pass a substantive grants program to support small businesses. While federal relief programs provided a crucial lifeline for many businesses, small businesses need unrestricted funding because only they can determine how to best utilize funding to keep their businesses open. 

Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business urging for members to immediately pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which would extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application period to May 31, 2021 and allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to process loans until June 30, 2021. Congress must pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021 immediately so that small businesses can acquire adequate funding to keep their doors open during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions urging for members to swiftly confirm Julie Su as President Biden's nominee for Deputy Secretary of Labor. Ms. Su is the current Secretary for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and has a distinguished career. Small Business Majority has worked closely with Secretary Su to support workforce issues in California, including the Future of Work Commission and the Employer Training Panel, which she oversaw.

Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter calling on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for all self-employed individuals and sole proprietors who previously received PPP loan funds based on their net profits. PPP loans were originally calculated using net profits, which resulted in very low amounts after accounting for business deductions.

Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to Senate leadership supporting healthcare provisions in the current iteration of the American Rescue Plan, which has vital measures that will strengthen access to healthcare and lower costs for small businesses and their employees. 

With yesterday's committee confirmation of Isabel Guzman, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to leadership urging the Senate to swiftly confirm President Biden's nominee for Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

Small Business Majority Board Member Jessica Milano testified in front of the U.S. the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs about the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Main Street. Specifically, she spoke on how many of the communities hardest hit by the pandemic have been communities of color, how despite significant Federal support, minority-owned businesses continue to experience challenges accessing capital, and how Congress should reauthorize the State Small Business Credit Initiative to address these market gaps.