CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG RECEIVES “SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE” AWARD FOR STRONG CHAMPIONSHIP OF SMALL BUSINESSES

Rep. Angie Craig, a member of the House Small Business Committee was recognized for being a bipartisan champion of small businesses, and was given the United States Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award.

"Small businesses employ hard-working folks in our communities and they drive commerce on our Main Streets. That's why I'm fighting every day to keep the American dream that lives in these small businesses,"said Rep. Craig. "It's a privilege to be recognized for my work supporting small business, and it is my honor to work tirelessly for those who have been hit devastatingly hard by COVID-19 who rose to help their communities and support their employees."

Just last week, Rep. Craig introducedthePrioritized Paycheck Protection Program Act, which would allow small businesses hit particularly hard that have received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to apply for a second round of PPP funding to keep their small businesses going.

You can hear her speak about her key legislation here.

"In these uncertain times with daunting economic and social challenges facing our nation, it is imperative that leaders in Washington are focused on propelling American businesses forward to create jobs and economic growth from California to Maine," said Thomas J. Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "As we rebuild our economy, legislators must lead by pursuing bipartisan solutions that create jobs and promote a free enterprise system. I'm proud to recognize these 259 Members of Congress for their commitment to driving opportunity and prosperity in America's workforce and on Main Streets across the nation."

Rep. Craig continuously fights for small businesses across Minnesota. In March she brought the needs of small businesses to the table by introducing the Small Business Relief Guaranteed Loan Program Act of 2020 which introduced the idea of interest-free, forgivable loans in response to COVID-19. The CARES Act included this concept to create the Paycheck Protection Program. She has taken several steps to improve these loans, including:

• Making sure the program was funded byrequesting and securing fundsto replenish the SBA loan programs in the CARES Act.
• Urging for flexibility by pushing leadershipwhile they were crafting the Heroes Act to include PPP flexibility by way of extending the June 30th deadline to use loan funds, altering the 75/25 rule and extension of the loan repayment window, all of which were included in the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act and the Heroes Act.
• Calling for more transparencyon whose PPP loans were getting approved and whose weren't, where the loans were going and how many of the recipients are minority, women or veteran-owned businesses in her co-sponsorship of the PPP Data Diversity and Accountability Act of 2020. Rep. Craig continues to push on making sure the Congressional small business relief programs are reaching mom and pop shops.
• Recognizing the unique needs of each business, including the need for some businesses to purchase supplies and goods, which were previously tax exempted and began to be taxed for recipients of the PPP loan, Rep. Craig cosponsored theProtecting the Paycheck Protection Program Act of 2020, which would correct this and was included in the Heroes Act.
• Continuously pushing for answersfrom The Department of Treasury and the Small Business Administration on PPP to hold the agencies accountable for the program.