[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 77 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE EMERGENCY CANNABIS SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH AND SAFETY 
                              ACT OF 2020

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2020

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended life 
as we know it and has impacted every aspect of American society. The 
abrupt health and economic turmoil caused by COVID-19 has left 
businesses, workers and families questioning the security of their 
futures. Our nation's small businesses are among those who have felt 
this pandemic most acutely. To prevent workers from choosing between 
their health and a paycheck we passed sweeping and unprecedented 
legislation to shield American businesses from the full economic 
consequences of COVID-19. However, state-legal cannabis small 
businesses were excluded from this economic relief and remain ill-
equipped to respond to the health and economic crisis before them.
  Small businesses across the country are being asked to do their part 
in keeping their workers, customers, and families safe. To support 
these efforts, on March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the 
CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers 
and small businesses. However, many state-legal cannabis small 
businesses are not eligible for this-relief and are being asked to 
protect workers and their families without the federal support 
available to other American small businesses. State-legal cannabis 
entrepreneurs and their workers are no different from those of other 
industries, and since COVID-19 does not discriminate, the inability of 
certain groups to protect themselves could inadvertently jeopardize the 
health of us all.
  The Emergency Cannabis Small Business Health and Safety Act would 
open access to SBA assistance relating to COVID-19 to state-legal 
cannabis businesses and their service providers. Specifically, this 
legislation would allow state-legal cannabis businesses to be eligible 
for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster 
Loans (EIDL), and Economic Injury Disaster Loans emergency advances. 
Among other things, this support is specifically designed to be used to 
pay workers, group health benefits and paid sick leave.
  The health and safety of the American people must be put first during 
the COVID-19 pandemic. Without doing so, we risk undermining the 
efforts of us all.

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