On April 21, the Senate passed a $480 billion coronavirus relief package that included $310 billion in new funding for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The House of Representatives is expected to pass this measure overwhelmingly when they meet on Thursday, April 23. ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø has been for the new funding due to construction firms struggling to maintain existing payrolls amid declining demand for construction services. This measure comes as welcome news as last week ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø successfully pushed for clarification of the eligibility requirements that allow construction firms that employ 500 or fewer people to qualify. While no changes were made to simplify PPP loan eligibility—such as waiving SBA’s affiliation rules—or how borrowers may or may not use the funds (and have them forgiven), ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø continues to press for such changes as additional pandemic relief legislation is already under discussion.
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