Small Businesses Beg Democrats to Stop Blocking PPP Funding

TOPLINE: As unemployment tops 22 million people over the past four weeks, it is unconscionable that Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer would exacerbate this horrific situation by withholding emergency assistance for small businesses.

The Paycheck Protection Program approved over 1.6 million loans, totaling nearly $350 billion in emergency assistance to small businesses. This program was one of the most direct and effective ways to keep small businesses afloat and workers on payroll throughout the course of this pandemic.

Dozens of small businesses have shared how this lapse in PPP funding has left them in desperate circumstances on the republicanwhip.gov "SHARE YOUR STORY" web portal. These businesses are begging Democrats to stop their political games and fund the PPP now.

Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer must understand the unbearable decisions small businesses face without access to PPP funds. See stories from across the country below:

DELTA ELECTRONICS CO OF LA, INC | Harvey, LA
[1-10 employees, 44 years in business]

"We applied almost two weeks ago. Not a word on the status of our application. We don't even know if it was processed. All we are told is it was received. We laid off 2 of our 3 employees. We would have laid off all 3, but we would have compromised our health insurance eligibility if we didn't keep at least 1 person actively employed. We are about 7 days away from shutting our doors down for good and possibly declaring bankruptcy. We don't know what else to do. I'm tired of crying myself to sleep every night wondering what tomorrow holds. Will we lose everything we worked for? Our house? Our retirement? The Democrats need to stop playing games with peoples lives from their million dollar homes with their financially secure futures. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"

CHABILL'S TIRE SERVICE | South Louisiana—Multiple Locations
[50-200 employees, 52 years in business]

"Up to this point we have managed to keep all our employees on the payroll and have avoided all layoffs, that will change if we are unable to secure a PPP loan."

COWBOY JUNCTION | Vinita, Oklahoma
[10-50 employees, 24 years in business]

"We were sure counting on the money. We have a church and a Christian school in our small town of approximately 6,000. Our school has almost 90 students on a full-time basis, but since the "quarantine" we are only keeping 20-30 for the parents that are essential and must work. Additionally, our church has about 150 members and we have not been able to meet so a big portion of our donations are not coming in. We have laid off 5 part-time teacher's aids, but have to keep paying our teachers because of the contract we agreed to prior to the school. Because we are a church, our employees are not able to collect unemployment. Neither our senior pastors, nor our assistant pastor receives a salary so we are trying to help our staff. PLEASE RELEASE more SBA money!!"

HEAVY METAL TRAINING INSTITUTE | Vinita, Oklahoma
[1-10 employees, 1 years in business]

"I was one of the businesses left out of the Payroll Protection Program. I am a school that teaches CDL training in Vinita, OK as well as a branch in Tahlequah, OK. I provide training in the essential workforce in the form of truck drivers and have no way to retain my instructors without this assistance. With this type of training, it is extremely hard to find the right instructors that can carry out quality instruction. I provide valuable training to companies, tribes, disadvantaged adults, and the unemployed to give people a chance to turn their lives around with a never-ending career. I simply cannot do that if I have to close; I am the only truck driving school in NE Oklahoma."

HOUSE & HOME REAL ESTATE | Montomery, AL
[1-10 employees, 18 years in business]

"I am an independent contractor and have ALL my paperwork submitted to my bank early this week. Was told [independent contractors] were being submitted after all small businesses were handled. Now the SBA has no funding and I was forced at the back of the line. I AM a small business. I am pissed and even more so that Congress won't do their job!We are in a panic to keep working."

SCHWARTZ EYE ASSOCIATES PA | Fort Lauderdale, FL
[1-10 employees, 20 years in business]

"Program ran out of money… I cannot afford to pay my staff and had to lay them off."

MIRKIN VISION | Rockaway, NY
[1-10 employees, 47 years in business]

"We need more funding for this program. I promised my employees I would [get] this loan and hire them back but now I can't! Compromise and get it done as soon as possible!"

FOY DISTRIBUTION | Dacula, GA
[1-10 employees, 5 years in business]

"We've been paying our employees out of our savings—APPROVED for the loan but denied funds BECAUSE they are gone. Now we may have to close so that we don't put our family in danger of total loss."

FORFEX LLC | Phoenix, AZ
[10-50 employees, 1 year in business]

"Getting this loan would be [a] lifesaver for our business. It is imperative that the program gets proper funding."

EXTREME FUN COMPANY | Winder, GA
[1-10 employees, 6 years in business]

"We are a seasonal business and our workers are planning on money during this time. Our work feeds many families and provides food on the table."

HALLS ADVANCED DENTISTRY & IMPLANT CENTER | Show Low, AZ
[10-50 employees, 15 years in business]

"Our office has been closed, except for emergencies, for a month now. We are trying to keep people on payroll but are finding it very difficult without income. Our loan has been in for several days now but we received a letter from our bank stating the government has run out of funds. We applied for the PPP loan and the EIDL loan on Monday. Funds ran out before both loans before either was funded."

CLARK INSURANCE SERVICES | Winder, GA
[1-10 employees, 3 years in business]

"I went to apply and thought there would not be a problem but boy I was shocked when the Bank said there was no more money. Business has [come] to a standstill !!"

MOHR BENEFITS, LLC | Metairie, LA
[1-10 employees, 19 years in business]

"I have not laid off any employee, but very close to doing so without this program. My revenue has dropped by 95%. I am using personal savings to maintain business."

HR BACKBONE | Houston, TX
[1-10 employees, 2 years in business]

"I am a self-employed HR Consultant in Houston, TX providing HR leadership to organizations that do not have the employee count or budget to have a full-time HR professional on staff. Because I am self-employed I had to wait until a week after all of my business clients to apply for the PPP and today I was notified the SBA is out of funds. I need help to stay in business and feed my family until this crisis is over. One of my clients can no longer pay me and the work at my other three has diminished significantly. Please implore Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to consider those in my situation, we need help."

Every day Democrats delay a standalone, clean funding bill for the Paycheck Protection Program results in hundreds of potentially permanent business closures across the United States and the destruction of countless livelihoods. What Democrats are doing is a complete scandal. Democrats must work with Republicans to pass this funding ASAP.