Hartzler Small Business Among 47,000 Missouri Companies to Utilize the Paycheck Protection Program

Statement

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) issued the following statement addressing media reports regarding her family business' participation in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):

"In the face of the coronavirus, small businesses across the country have faced extraordinary uncertainty. Many have had to make heart-wrenching decisions such as laying off staff or even closing altogether. As small business owners, my husband Lowell and I know the realities of this uncertainty, as well, and took action to ensure the continued ability to maintain the employment of all team members during this time. That's why the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was such a crucial element of Congress' response to this pandemic. American workers deserve the certainty of their job.

The PPP allows small businesses to apply for loans from the Small Business Administration through a participating lender in order to keep employees on the payroll through these difficult times. Like millions of small businesses across the country and nearly 47,000 small businesses in Missouri, our family businesses applied for and received PPP loans to ensure our employees could remain employed and the business could pay expenses. These loans are allowable for Members of Congress and were acquired in accordance to the provisions written into the CARES Act following guidance from the House Ethics Committee and through the same process, rules, and restrictions as any other American applying for these loans.

I also supported the three oversight commissions created by the CARES Act to oversee the proper implementation of these funding programs including the Congressional Oversight Commission, the Pandemic Response Accountability Commission, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. In addition the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is charged with conducting an audit of the CARES Act expenditures and given $20 million to carry out the audit. I did not, however, support Speaker Pelosi's desire to create a ninth coronavirus oversight body.

Already, Congress and the Executive branch have eight bodies with a chartered responsibility of oversight over all the elements of the CARES Act. As opposed to the equally bipartisan commissions established in the CARES Act, Speaker Pelosi's proposal for a ninth commission would create a new, overwhelmingly Democrat-controlled commission, which shamelessly politicizes this COVID-19 pandemic.

I encourage every small business owner facing financial uncertainty for their employees to apply for the PPP. If you have any difficulty in accessing PPP loans, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. We are more than happy to assist you during these trying times," Hartzler said.

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