Rubio, Cardin Press SBA on Support for Small Businesses as Coronavirus Spreads

Summary

Press release dated February 27, 2020 in which Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD) send a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. They ask how the agency will help America's 30 million small businesses prepare for possible disruptions from COVID-19 and what more Congress could provide. The release cites the Centers for Disease Control, which says COVID-19 had been detected in 37 locations across the globe. A briefing from SBA is requested no later than Wednesday, March 4, 2020, and the letter text follows.

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Title: Rubio, Cardin Press SBA on Support for Small Businesses as Coronavirus Spreads
Date: 2020-02-27

Rubio, Cardin Press SBA on Support for Small Businesses as Coronavirus Spreads

February 27, 2020

(Washington, DC)–Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD) today sent a letter to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza requesting details on how the agency intends to help America’s 30 million small businesses prepare for potential disruptions due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 has been detected in 37 locations across the globe, including the United States, where the agency anticipates that more cases will be identified in the coming days and person-to-person spread will likely continue.

“As the situation continues to evolve, it is becoming clear that the threat of widespread transmission of COVID-19 could have severe economic impacts on small businesses and the U.S. economy as a whole,” the senators wrote. “For this reason, we urge you to take immediate action to ensure that small businesses and their employees are equipped to prepare for, and respond to, the anticipated spread of COVID-19 in order to reduce both short-term and long-term disruptions.”

The senators requested a briefing from SBA on its plan to support small businesses no later than Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

A copy of the letter is available here; the full text follows:

Dear Administrator Carranza:

In light of recent developments, we are writing to express our concern about the potential impact that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) could have on U.S. small businesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 has now been detected in 37 locations internationally, including the U.S. The CDC anticipates that more cases in the United States are likely to be identified in the coming days and person-to-person spread will likely continue to occur. As the situation continues to evolve, it is becoming clear that the threat of widespread transmission of COVID-19 could have severe economic impacts on small businesses and the U.S. economy as a whole.

For this reason, we urge you to take immediate action to ensure that small businesses and their employees are equipped to prepare for, and respond to, the anticipated spread of COVID-19 in order to reduce both short-term and long-term disruptions. Additionally, we formally request a senior-level staff briefing from SBA no later than Wednesday, March 4, 2020 to provide our offices with answers to the following questions:

What specific actions has the SBA taken to ensure small businesses are prepared to respond to potential disruptions cause by COVID-19?

What is the SBA doing to coordinate with other agencies, like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security, to prepare small businesses and employees to protect employee health and safety?

What outreach has the SBA conducted to small businesses regarding COVID-19?

What administrative actions does the SBA expect to take to reduce the burden that COVID-19 could have on small businesses and the overall U.S. economy?

Is the SBA considering global supply chain issues in this process?

What additional resources and/or direction from Congress does SBA need to assist in the agency’s response to the potential impact of COVID-19?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.  We look forward to your prompt response on the agency’s efforts to ensure small businesses are prepared for this emerging public health threat.

Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/2/rubio-cardin-press-sba-on-support-for-small-businesses-as-coronavirus-spreads

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