Jeff Fortenberry: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Steve called me recently. He has one of the businesses that has been hardest hit by…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Steve called me recently. He has one of the businesses that has been hardest hit by coronavirus. He is down 90 percent. We talked through some issues. Steve decided to fight back. He got in line early for the Paycheck Protection Program and made a decision to bring his employees back, and then he had a virtual ribbon cutting where he announced his reopening. Madam Speaker, our country is in dire need of some good news, and this PPP has been a bright spot in the trauma that we have all faced here. Where I live, Madam Speaker, the banker knows the farmer, the banker knows the barber, the banker knows the cafe owner. CPAs, financial advisers, credit unions, we have all pitched in. This is what I call community solidarity. It was clear from the beginning that this program would run out of money, and we have reached that point. This has been a bipartisan airlift, a lifesaver for so many people who make things with their own two hands and take care of others under their employ. I wholeheartedly support this bill.”