How The Cares Act Supports America's Small Businesses And Job Creators

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- All across the country, our neighborhood restaurants and stores are facing enormous challenges as a result of COVID-19. These small businesses are the backbone of the American economy – and it’s important we stand with them as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19.

That’s why I’m grateful President Trump signed the CARES Act into law last week. This bill provides immediate emergency relief to working men and women all across this country and will help keep America’s small businesses afloat during these challenging times.

If you’re a small business owner with 500 employees or less, you might be asking ‘How does the CARES Act help me keep my doors open and my employees on the payroll?’

The CARES Act:

Provides $377 billion in emergency relief for small businesses, including restaurants, bars, hardware stores, and nail salons, as well as those who are sole proprietors or self-employed.
Allows 8-weeks of loan forgiveness for expenses that include payroll, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities.
Takes meaningful steps to quickly get liquidity to businesses in order to stabilize our economy and protect jobs in Texas and across the country.
This emergency relief was specifically designed for job creators to be able to hire back their employees and keep the lights on. If that loan is used for payroll, rent, or utilities – it’ll be forgiven in year.

On Monday, I appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box to talk about the ways the CARES Act protects American lives and livelihoods. Watch that full interview here.

While we have a long road ahead of us, I know we’re going to make it through this challenge. We’re already seeing the best of us shine through these uncertain times.

Together, we will curb the spread of this dangerous disease and ultimately defeat it.

Keep Texas Stron,
Ted Cruz

TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOB CREATORS

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing emergency relief for small businesses through community banks and/or approved small business lenders. A short summary of the SBA loans are below:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: Small business owners in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program: Allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan.

The Senate Small Businesses Committee has also developed a small business owners guide to the CARES Act here and has answered FAQs on the Paycheck Protection Program here. For more information on resources available to small businesses, visit the SBA’s site here.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued guidance and helpful tools for small business owners and job creators to utilize as they navigate COVID-19. Read more here.

Governor Abbott’s Business and Community Development Division has provided resources and tools for Texas Small Businesses. Read more here.

The Texas Association of Businesses has developed a COVID-19 business resource toolkit. Read more here.

For more information and additional resources, visit www.cruz.senate.gov/coronavirus/.