This week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., threw his support behind U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas’, D-NH, proposal to ensure nonprofits which help small businesses, including local chambers of commerce and tourism organizations, will be able to get assistance from the federal government through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Pappas showcased the “Local Chamber, Tourism, and 501(c)(6) Protection Act” on Wednesday with Steube, U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., as cosponsors.
“Like the businesses they serve, many local chambers, tourism-related organizations, and other 501(c)(6) nonprofits are now experiencing their own financial challenges brought on by COVID-19. These organizations are not currently eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to get financial support. The Local Chamber, Tourism, and 501(c)(6) Protection Act would expand PPP eligibility to include 501(c)(6) organizations with 300 or fewer employees to ensure they can continue supporting our mainstreet businesses and local economies,” Pappas’ office noted.
“Our local chambers, associations, and non-profits will continue to play an instrumental role in ensuring our Main Street businesses and regional economies can weather this storm,” said Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation will expand crucial small business assistance to the groups whose mission it is to support them. It is going to take all of us doing our part to get our economy back up and running in a safe and orderly fashion. I look forward to continuing working across the aisle to introduce common sense legislation to ensure that happens.”
“We have a responsibility to ensure that local chambers of commerce and nonprofits are empowered to fill their important role in our small business communities as they have before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Steube said. “This bipartisan legislation will help small business owners address their unique problems with local resources and provide a support system that will continue to serve our communities long after this crisis subsides.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Small Business Committee on Tuesday when Pappas filed it. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
