Washington — The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation May 28 aimed at giving small businesses more time and flexibility to use their Paycheck Protection Program funds.

HR 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, passed the House 417-1. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the only dissenting vote. The ADA and Organized Dentistry Coalition both sent letters earlier this week in support of the bill. The Senate will now decide whether to take up HR 7010 or present its own bill regarding flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep or rehire their workers.

Provisions in the bill the ADA and other dental organizations support include:

• Extending the expense forgiveness period from eight weeks to 24 weeks.
• Reducing the 75% payroll ratio requirement to 60%.
• Allowing payroll tax deferment for Paycheck Protection Program recipients.
• Extending the June 30 rehiring deadline.

Follow all of the ADA’s advocacy efforts in response to the pandemic at ADA.org/COVID19Advocacy.