Press Releases
After calling for the release of the list of businesses that have received emergency small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Andy Kim (NJ-03) are introducing a bill to require the Small Business Administration to make that information public. Davids and Kim are both members of the House Small Business Committee.
Representative Sharice Davids introduced legislation today to rapidly increase the supply of equipment like face masks, hospital gowns, ventilators, and testing materials needed to fight the coronavirus and keep frontline workers safe. The bill would also promote manufacturing these goods in the United States.
Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement on the distribution of coronavirus relief funds to tribal governments announced today by the U.S. Department of Treasury:
After seeing concerns reports about large companies getting relief funds at the expense of local small businesses, Representative Sharice Davids called for the release of the complete list of businesses that have received emergency small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Representative Sharice Davids held a virtual roundtable today to discuss resources for local small businesses with representatives from the Enterprise Center in Johnson County and Kansas City Women's Business Center.
The panelists discussed a variety of small business issues, including businesses trying to switch their production to equipment needed amid the coronavirus, such as hand sanitizer and masks. They also discussed challenges with small business relief programs and the support their offices can provide businesses in navigating these programs.
Newly-released Small Business Administration (SBA) guidance will allow tribal small businesses that were previously excluded to access loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. While the CARES Act passed by Congress last month provided for tribal small businesses to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the SBA had released an interim rule that excluded tribally-operated gaming businesses from accessing this critical assistance. Davids led a bipartisan, bicameral effort of 38 lawmakers urging the SBA to change their rule and today they did.
Representative Sharice Davids helped secure additional funding for small businesses, hospitals, health care workers and COVID-19 testing, voting for the "The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" earlier today.
Representative Sharice Davids emphasized the importance of addressing health disparities in Wyandotte County yesterday during a Facebook Live with a Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS Public Health Department official.
Although black residents make up around 23 percent of Wyandotte County's population, they represent more than half of the people testing positive for COVID-19, as well as two-thirds of COVID-19-related deaths. Wyandotte County currently has the most confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in the state.
Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on the release of sensitive tribal government data related to CARES Act funds, as well as news that these funds are not being fairly distributed to tribes as intended.
As critical small business loan programs rapidly run out of money, Representative Sharice Davids urged congressional leaders to put partisan politics aside and reach a bipartisan consensus on funding for small business relief programs.