Congress Votes to Extend Paycheck Protection Program

A proposal to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through the end of May has passed the Senate by a vote of 92-7. The PPP was set to expire on March 31, 2021, just weeks after changes were made to expand availability to certain small businesses. The House had voted earlier this month to pass the bill, and it now heads to the President for signature.  

PPP loans were initially created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The loans are meant to assist small employers in retaining employees on their payrolls in a time of financial stress during the coronavirus pandemic. If certain conditions are met, PPP loans can be forgiven and treated as a grant. Among the conditions for full forgiveness is a requirement that 60 percent of loan proceeds be used for payroll expenses. These expenses can include wages and salaries, as well as employer contributions to defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans. Expenses for providing group healthcare coverage—including payment of insurance premiums—can also be included.