Ernst Supports Additional Small Business Relief for Iowans

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Small Business Committee and champion of the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), supported a boost to the PPP today, which would have allowed Iowa small businesses a second pass at the program. Democrats voted to block the additional small business relief, which they once supported. Ernst issued the following statement:

“The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline for more than 61,000 small businesses in Iowa who’ve faced extremely difficult situations during this pandemic. To create this program, we worked together in a bipartisan way to deliver relief to Iowa workers and businesses, and as I’ve continued to hear from Iowa employers, they’ve made it clear they need more relief,” Ernst said. “Today Democrats once again put politics ahead of people. For the second time in a month, they voted to block much-needed additional support for workers.”

Background:

As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Ernst helped create the Paycheck Protection Program, a forgivable loan to help small businesses survive the pandemic and keep their employees on payroll.

As a result of the PPP, Ernst helped deliver support to 61,418 Iowa small business totaling $5,124,660,961.

During her 99 County Tour, Ernst spoke with many small businesses about the need for additional relief. Last month, she supported a COVID-19 relief package that included access to a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for Iowa small businesses.

After Democrats blocked that bill, Ernst called on Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders to allow small businesses a second pass at the Paycheck Protection Program. She joined Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio in stating that this should happen before the election.

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