Loeffler, Colleagues Urge Treasury, SBA to Ensure Protections for Faith-based Entities
Religious Organizations Also Deserve Economic Relief
ATLANTA, GA – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) joined 18 senators in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to ensure protections for faith-based entities.
The letter urges the administration to ensure that no otherwise qualified faith-based entity is denied relief due to its religious affiliation. Additionally, the letter asks that the administration to allow for maximum participation by faith-based entities and monitor the actions of lenders to ensure that faith-based entities are not discriminated against.
“It was Congress’ intent that the $349 billion in loans for payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities that was authorized under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as well as the expansion of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program would help businesses and nonprofits, including those with faith missions, stay afloat and keep employees on their payrolls during this time,” wrote the senators. “As such, we were glad to see the additional guidance and clarification issued on April 3, 2020, to make it clear to lenders and borrowers that faith-based entities are able to participate in these two loan programs.
“As we repeatedly brought to your attention, without these assurances, many of our nation’s most impactful faith-based entities would have been unable to participate in the PPP due to undue restrictions on their sincerely held religious beliefs, thereby forcing them to choose between abandoning their faith mission or closing their doors to both employees and the communities they serve.”
The administration issued a FAQ for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Program to clarify that faith-based entities, including houses of worship, are eligible for PPP and EIDL loans and will not need to sacrifice waive their religious beliefs to comply.
Loeffler sent the letter alongside Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Thune (R-SD), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT).
The full letter is available here.