Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House - Rep. Chip Roy Letter To Pelosi On Clean PPP Extension Vote
Letter
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
It has been 97 days since the Paycheck Protection Program expired and banks stopped making loans. Thus far, House Democrat leaders have refused to bring a clean reauthorization of this successful and popular program to the floor for a vote. Without more assistance, surveys show that 40 percent of small businesses will close within 12 months. And yet, in our first week reconvening since the election, we are prioritizing leadership elections and organizing meetings over critical relief for small businesses and the workers they employ. I write today to insist that this House hold a clean up or down vote on an extension of PPP before we hold leadership elections.
A clean PPP extension, such as H.R. 8265, the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, has overwhelming support. A discharge petition calling for its consideration has over 190 signatures with nearly two dozen Democrats expressing support as well. It is unconscionable to continue to hold this consensus piece of legislation hostage while small businesses are dying. How do we explain to the American people that, instead of voting on legislation that will save their jobs, we are voting on who will have power in the next Congress?
There are other urgent matters that deserve our immediate attention as well. If Secretary Mnuchin continues to ignore clear congressional intent that expenses paid for with PPP funds should remain tax deductible, Congress must act to prevent an unnecessary, unexpected, and damaging tax increase on small business. Additionally, if SBA does not act to simplify and streamline forgiveness, and provide clear and unambiguous forgiveness rules, Congress must step in.
As an example of what we can accomplish, Dean Phillips and I worked together to pass the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. Our bill helped tens of thousands of small businesses stay alive, preserving millions of jobs. Unfortunately, that relief is running out. I've seen it first hand in Texas, as restaurants, music venues, hotels, and other businesses continue to close.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Please prioritize these matters immediately. Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
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