Gianforte Urges President to Support Montana Small Businesses, Taverns Confronting COVID-19

Statement

Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) today urged President Trump to ensure Montana small businesses and taverns have access to federal emergency relief resources amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Montana bars and taverns are shut down by government order, and we need to help them if they are going to reopen after the public health threat of COVID-19 has passed," Gianforte wrote in a letter to the president. "I ask that you ensure the SBA does not apply this condition to Montana's small businesses which desperately need the support during this challenging time."

For past loan programs, regulations from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) prevented businesses, which receive one-third or more of their revenue from gaming, from qualifying and participating.

In his letter, Gianforte urges President Trump to ensure SBA regulations do not put Montana taverns, small businesses, and their workers at a disadvantage as they confront the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed and the president signed on March 27, provides nearly $350 billion in federally guaranteed loans via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The loans provide eight weeks of cash-flow assistance to small businesses who maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 emergency. If employers maintain their payroll, the loans would be forgiven, which would help workers to remain employed and affected small businesses and our economy to quickly snap-back after the crisis.

The new law allows the PPP to cover payroll costs, paid sick leave, supply chain disruptions, employee salaries, health insurance premiums, mortgage payments, and other debt obligations to provide immediate access to capital for small businesses who have been impacted by the coronavirus.

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