Small Business Webinar and Coronavirus Update

April 23, 2020
DeSaulnier Digest

Today, the House passed an interim relief package to provide additional funding to small businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic and hospitals treating coronavirus patients. Read more about the interim package below.

While Congressman DeSaulnier recovers in the hospital, to shine a light on the support and funding Congress has set up for small businesses and nonprofits, our office will host a Small Business Webinar Town Hall tomorrow, April 24th at 2:00 p.m. PT. The event will feature an introduction by special guest and former Member of Congress, George Miller and a presentation by the Small Business Majority, followed by a live Q&A session. We encourage small business owners and nonprofit organizations throughout Contra Costa to join.

To participate, please register here or by clicking the image below.

Congressional Action

The bill Congress passed today, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, moves us in the right direction. Specifically, the package:

  • Nearly doubles the funding for small business loans, including setting aside billions for underserved communities;
  • Provides $75 billion for hospitals to help support their response to the coronavirus pandemic and assist in buying personal protective equipment (PPE); and
  • Includes $25 billion for testing, which is key to reopening the economy, and the creation of a national testing strategy.

Work also continues on a new relief package, which aims to put the health and safety of the American people first with strong funding for health care, police, fire, EMS, and other essential workers. As new resources and information become available, we will continue to update the coronavirus resources section of our website here. For helpful answers to frequently asked questions about the programs Congress has passed on coronavirus, please visit our FAQs handout here.