{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.jones.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-doug-jones-proposes-bipartisan-loan-forgiveness-legislation-for-disaster-hit-small-businesses", "Senator Doug Jones Proposes Bipartisan Loan Forgiveness Legislation for Disaster-Hit Small Businesses", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Doug Jones", "J000300", "www.jones.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S Senate Doug Jonesof Alabamaand Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced theDisaster Relief for Southeastern Small Businesses Act of 2020.This bill would forgive small business loans made under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security(CARES)Act.The Disaster Relief for Southeastern Small Businesses Actestablishes an easy process for businesses in counties with major disaster declarations from Hurricane Sally to seek forgiveness for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).\r\nAs folks across South Alabama begin the work to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Sally, Ibelieve Congress should be assisting them in any way we can,said Senator Jones.That's why I'm joining Senator Kennedy, from our neighbor Louisiana, to introduce bipartisan legislation that ensures small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Sally and Laura can benefit from loan forgiveness for COVID-19 relief programs. Alabama's Main Street businesses have struggled already during the pandemic, and Hurricane Sally is yet another devastating hit. This legislation will cut through government red tape and allow forgiveness of business loans received as part of our CARES legislation as they continue to re-open and re-build. It is one way we can help them survive these compounding disasters and continue to serve our communities and create jobs.\r\nImpacted businesses must provide their lenders with an attestation form stating that the business used the loans as intended in order to receive loan forgiveness. In order to prevent fraud and ensure transparency, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator would have the authority to review and audit forgiven loans.\r\nThe Paycheck Protection Program(PPP)closed at the end of August 8, 2020. As a result, the SBA is no longer accepting applications from participating lenders. Alabama businesses received 70,331 PPP loans totaling $6.245 billion.As of August 8, 2020, a total of 41,243 EIDL loans totaling $1.84 billion have been issued by the SBA to small businesses in Alabama.\r\nBACKGROUND\r\nFrom his seat on the Senate Banking Committee,Senator Jones has been astrongadvocate forAlabama's small businessesbefore and throughouttheCOVID-19pandemic. In May, hecalledfor increased guidance and loan forgiveness for small businesses who have applied under thePPPandsupportedlegislation toreplenish PPP funds and ensureadditional reliefwould be available to Alabama'ssmall businesses.He also introduced legislation to fund the payrolls of eligible businesses  called thePaycheck Security Act to keep businesses afloat and workers paid during the pandemic.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.jones.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-doug-jones-proposes-bipartisan-loan-forgiveness-legislation-for-disaster-hit-small-businesses"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.068687066435814, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}