2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Paycheck Protection Program And Health
Care Enhancement Act, Congress's Fourth Coronavirus Response Bill, Which
Increased Funding For The EIDL. In April 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act as part
of Congress's response to the Coronavirus pandemic that would, according
to Congressional Quarterly, "[provide] additional funding for SBA
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and associated grants for small
businesses that have been financially harmed by the pandemic [...] The
measure increases by $10 billion the level of emergency grants
authorized under the expanded EIDL program, increasing the program's
authorized grant level to $20 billion and appropriating $10 billion
for those additional grants. It also appropriates $50 billion for the
costs of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which is estimated to
support $350 billion in such disaster loans to small businesses." The
vote was on a motion to concur. The House passed the bill by a vote of
388-5 and the bill was then signed into law by the President. [House
Vote 104, 4/23/20;
Congressional Quarterly,
4/22/20;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.266]
The Bill Expanded Benefits For Small Businesses Under The Economic
Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Administered Under The SBA.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "SBA's EIDL program
traditionally provides direct, low-interest loans of up to $2
million to small businesses that have been impacted by a natural
disaster to help the business cover operating expenses. The initial
COVID-19 response package enacted by Congress in March authorized
small businesses affected by the pandemic to access the EIDL
program, and the third response package (the CARES Act) expanded the
program by creating an emergency grant component under which
businesses that apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan can
receive a loan advance of up to $10,000 to cover revenue shortfalls
that does not have to be repaid --- and which the business may keep
even if their loan application is denied." [Congressional
Quarterly,
4/22/20]
The Measure Included Funds For Farming And Agricultural
Industries, Which Were Left Out Of The March Legislation.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The economic bill the Senate
passed Tuesday would give farmers another pool of federal loans and
grants to tap by ending restrictions on agricultural eligibility for
the Small Business Administration's economic injury disaster program
[...] Farm groups had complained that although Congress pumped
$10 billion into the program in March legislation, it left
unchanged language that shut out much of agriculture. Aquaculture,
plant nurseries and small agricultural cooperatives could apply for
up to $2 million in low-interest loans, but farms and ranches with
500 or fewer employees were ineligible." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/21/20]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Disapprove A CFPB Small Business Lending
Rule. In December 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for "Passage of the resolution that would provide for
congressional disapproval of a May 2023 Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau rule that requires financial institutions to collect and report
information to CFPB on small-business credit applications, such as the
credit type, credit purpose and the amount applied for. It would also
allow for the collection of self-reported demographic data related to
women-, minority- and LGBTQ-owned small businesses. According to the
CFPB, the rule is intended to allow for the creation of a database which
agencies can use to enforce fair lending practices. The rule took effect
on Aug. 29, 2023. Under the provisions of the joint resolution, the CFPB
rule would have no force or effect." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the resolution by a vote of 221 to 202, thus it was sent to the
President. President Biden vetoed the resolution. [House Vote 690,
12/1/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/1/23;
Congressional Actions, S.J. Res.
32]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Small Business
Credit Rule. In November 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to order the previous question (thus
ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 891) that
would provide for House floor consideration of the [...] joint
resolution (S J Res 32) disapproving a CFPB small business credit rule.
The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on each bill." The vote
was on the adoption of the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a
vote of 212 to 205. [House Vote 679,
11/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
891;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5283]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Disapprove A Small Business
Credit Rule. In November 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to order the previous question (thus
ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 891) that
would provide for House floor consideration of the [...] joint
resolution (S J Res 32) disapproving a CFPB small business credit rule.
The rule would provide up to one hour of debate on each bill." The vote
was on the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote
of 213 to 205. [House Vote 678,
11/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
891;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5961]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Studying Challenges Faced By Rural Small
Businesses. In July 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "require the Securities and
Exchange Commission office for small business capital formation to
identify and include in its annual report to Congress challenges in
securing access to capital faced by rural-area small businesses." The
vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House
agreed to the motion and passed the bill by a vote of 413-7. The bill
was never taken up in the Senate. [House Vote 433,
7/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/9/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.2409]