Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "LIFE NOW Act," aims to increase the eligibility of nonprofit organizations for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP was created to provide financial assistance to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this bill seeks to expand the program to include more nonprofit organizations. It also includes a provision prohibiting any entity that provides abortions from receiving a PPP loan, with exceptions for hospitals and certain types of abortions. Overall, the bill aims to support and empower nonprofit organizations while also addressing controversial issues related to abortion.
Possible Impacts
1. Nonprofit organizations may have increased access to loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, allowing them to better support their employees and continue their work.
2. Nonprofit organizations that provide abortions may be ineligible for loans under the Small Business Act, potentially limiting their ability to receive financial support and continue their services.
3. The LIFE NOW Act may face opposition from those who do not support abortion rights, potentially leading to delays or difficulties in passing the legislation.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7211 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7211
To increase the eligibility of nonprofit organizations for loans under
the Paycheck Protection Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 15, 2020
Mr. Hice of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr.
Collins of Georgia, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Flores, Mr. Gosar,
Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. King of Iowa, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Mooney of West
Virginia, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Ferguson)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase the eligibility of nonprofit organizations for loans under
the Paycheck Protection Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Limiting Infant Fatality and
Empowering Nonprofit Organization Workforces'' or the ``LIFE NOW Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
(a) Eligibility of All Nonprofit Organizations for Loans.--Section
7(a)(36)(D) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(D)) is
amended--
(1) in clause (i), by striking ``nonprofit organization,''
each place that term appears;
(2) in clause (v), by striking ``nonprofit organization,'';
and
(3) by striking clause (vi) and inserting the following:
``(vi) Eligibility for nonprofit
organizations.--During the covered period, any
nonprofit organization shall be eligible to
receive a covered loan.''.
(b) Prohibition on Funding for Abortions.--Section 7(a)(36) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(S) Prohibition on funding for abortions.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), no entity, including an affiliate,
subsidiary, successor, or clinic thereof, that
provides abortions shall be eligible to receive
a covered loan.
``(ii) Exceptions.--Clause (i) shall not
apply to--
``(I) a hospital, as defined in
section 1861(e) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(e)); or
``(II) an abortion described in
section 507(a) of division A of the
Further Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94).''.
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