[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 166 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4887-H4888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, during National Small 
Business Week, I join with my fellow Americans in honoring workers, 
entrepreneurs, and the small business community.
  From farms and factories to shops and cafes, small businesses employ 
hardworking Americans and provide important goods and services to their 
neighbors. In Pennsylvania and around the country, small businesses are 
not only the backbone of our economy, they are the heart our 
communities.
  This year, they have faced extraordinary challenges. During the 
coronavirus crisis, many small businesses, following Federal, State, 
and local mandates, have been forced to radically change the way they 
do business or even temporarily close their doors.
  As jobs were put into jeopardy, Congress quickly acted to provide 
targeted relief to American families, workers, and small businesses. 
Under the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program was enacted in 
record time. This unprecedented program served as a vital lifeline to 
millions of small businesses. Already, the Paycheck Protection Program 
has saved more than 50 million jobs across our country. For those 
workers and their families, this policy is personal.
  Just last weekend, I stopped by Boyer Orchards in Bedford County. As 
I was waiting to buy their famous apples, I had the opportunity to 
speak to my fellow Penn Staters Matt and Ellen Boyer and their sons and 
all who work for them tirelessly to keep this family business running.
  Like many farms and orchards, they had tough choices when they lost 
business during the coronavirus shutdown, through no fault of their 
own; but, thankfully, they had the support to make ends meet and, most 
importantly, to keep their hardworking team on the payroll.
  The Boyer family attributes the Paycheck Protection Program with 
helping them weather the storm, and they even called this program a 
godsend.
  Today, I am happy to report that the orchard is open and business is 
booming and the apples are plentiful. I can confirm that they were well 
worth the wait.
  As we celebrate the success of the Boyer family, I also recognize 
that

[[Page H4888]]

there are small businesses that are still struggling under the 
burdensome State and local mandates.
  The deadline to apply for Paycheck Protection Program support has, 
unfortunately, passed, and yet too many businesses remain closed or 
restricted. Some small business leaders are wondering how long they can 
survive. And, frankly, if we do not act, we risk losing them 
permanently.
  Most of our small businesses have been built by hardworking families 
over generations. Will Congress let this be their end? Will we allow 
families on Main Street to be used as bargaining chips in Washington?
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot permit small businesses to be wiped out by a 
virus. This is a time for choosing, and we in Congress must put 
politics aside and extend a lifeline to the American small businesses.
  Congressman   Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the House Small 
Business Committee, has introduced commonsense legislation that would 
reopen the Paycheck Protection Program, free up over $137 billion of 
unspent funds, and extend this program until the end of this year. This 
plan makes sense, and I encourage every Member of Congress to support 
it.
  If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to plan for the unexpected. 
While many circumstances beyond our control remain uncertain, Congress 
has an opportunity now to offer small businesses security, and, most 
important, we have the chance to offer hope to these hardworking 
Americans.
  As my friend Congressman Chabot said earlier this week, our economy 
is depending upon America's small businesses, and American small 
businesses are depending on us.
  This Small Business Week, there are livelihoods that are on the line. 
American families are counting on us. American workers are counting on 
us. It is time that we deliver for them.

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