The Democratic Biden Administration’s Small Business Administration recently announced that it will actually implement Florida Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar’s RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act, H.R. 4667, which passed the House of Representatives.
The legislation requires the Small Business Administration to create a plan to reclaim unused or fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When Congress passed my RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act last month, we sent a strong message to President Biden that we need accountability in our government,” said Rep. Salazar, who represents South Florida. “I applaud the Small Business Administration for implementing my common sense policy. Miami small business owners relied on these loans to keep the doors open during the pandemic – but bad actors took advantage of the system. We owe it to the American taxpayers to ensure frauds and cheats pay back what they stole from our communities.”
“I applaud Congresswoman Salazar for her work on the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act,” said Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams. “Seeing the SBA follow suit and act on this Committee’s pragmatic legislation shows the impact and effectiveness of our work in Congress.”
The Returning Erroneous COVID Loans Addressing Illegal and Misappropriated (RECLAIM) Taxpayer Funds Act requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish processes to account for fraudulent and unused Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans distributed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida Republican also pointed out the Small Business Administration noticed the guidance here.
This legislation marks the sixth major legislative victory during Representative Salazar’s two terms in Congress. Other key bills sponsored by Rep. Salazar that were passed or implemented into law include:
- The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Act to provide economic relief for Floridians.
- Implemented by the Biden Administration in March 2021.
- The Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act to sanction the Ortega Regime in Nicaragua.
- Signed into law in November 2021.
- The PRICE Act to make it easier for small businesses to get federal contracts.
- Signed into law in February 2022.
- The Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act to reauthorize critical funding for programs that address mental health and substance abuse issues.
- Signed into law in December 2022.
- The REEF Act to incentivize retired Navy ships to be sunk and used as artificial reefs in marine ecosystems across America.
- Signed into law in December 2023.
View the H.R. 4667 legislation online.
