(Houston, TX) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) called on Congressional leadership to provide additional funding for small business relief.  This comes as the Small Business Association (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program had already committed all of their funds as of today.

“We must move swiftly to provide additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program established and funded by the CARES Act,” said Congresswoman Fletcher.  “I have heard from so many small businesses from every corner of my district that are struggling to get access to the funds that Congress intended to help them – funds that they desperately need. 

“Keeping small businesses operating, and employees paid, through PPP is central to our efforts to mitigate the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.  “This is not a time for partisan name-calling and finger-pointing.  This is the time for our government to work together to solve the very real problems presented here – the need for more funds in the programs and more capacity for all our small businesses to be able to access them.  We can do both of those things now, and we must.”

The CARES Act provides $349 billion for the PPP, a program which provides forgivable loans to small businesses to pay payroll costs and certain overhead expenses, and $10 billion for the EIDL Program, including economic injury grants of up to $10,000.