The Peru Gazette

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  –  Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voted today in favor of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, bipartisan legislation that she cosponsors. This legislation would provide flexibility for small businesses that have utilized PPP loans. Specifically, this legislation extends the period businesses can utilize funds and receive forgiveness to 24 weeks, allows a greater portion of the loan to be utilized on non-payroll expenses, ensures access to payroll tax deferment for businesses that take PPP loans, and provides flexibility on employment level requirements and loan maturity.

“I have been an outspoken supporter of the PPP loans that have provided immediate relief to our small businesses throughout the last several months,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I have worked with the SBA and U.S. Treasury directly to provide clarity and make changes to this program, and I am fully supportive of the new flexibilities that this bill will provide. Our small businesses are the backbone of the North Country economy, and I will continue to advocate for solutions and support for them as they look to reopen and recover from this public health crisis.”

Last night, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voted in favor of the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act, bipartisan legislation that she cosponsors in the House. This bill requires the FBI Director to establish the Law Enforcement Officers Suicide Data Collection Program, an initiative that would collect data on law enforcement and former law enforcement suicides at the local, state, and federal levels. Congresswoman Stefanik also voted in favor of the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act. Currently, the Bureau of Justice Assistance pays $250,000 in death or disability benefits to injured public safety officers or their surviving beneficiaries if the officer is killed or disabled in the line of duty. This legislation would create a new presumption of eligibility for a public safety officer who contracted COVID-19 between January 20, 2020, and January 20, 2022.

“Our law enforcement community works tirelessly to keep our local communities safe, and they have not wavered in their service throughout this public health crisis,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I proudly voted to pass these two important pieces of bipartisan legislation in order to establish a new data collection program and to ensure that our public safety officers who have fallen victim to COVID-19 are eligible for rightfully owed benefits. These men and women have put their lives on the line and deserve our utmost support, and I will continue to advocate on their behalf in Congress.”