The Power of Advocacy: US Senators

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) passed the U.S. Senate 98–0 and the House 96–0, attributed to small business owners effectively communicating the urgency of their situation to Congress.

• The program was designed as a bipartisan lifeline to help small businesses retain workers without incurring additional debt.
• Senator Cardin emphasized that the legislation's success relied on effective lobbying to demonstrate that saving businesses also preserves jobs and taxpayer dollars by reducing unemployment insurance costs.

Advocacy effectiveness was defined by Senators Cardin, Hassan, and Daines through the following shared principles:

• Outcome Focus: Senator Daines noted that advocacy must translate policy into tangible results, treating initial legislation like a software launch that requires subsequent "bug fixes" and administrative adjustments.
• Storytelling and Groundwork: Senator Hassan advised advocates to tell personal stories to illustrate ripple effects on communities while engaging stakeholders early to ensure solutions are sustainable.
• Bipartisan Collaboration: Senator Cardin described the legislative process as a "common thread" approach where diverse views on business size and nonprofit eligibility were resolved through listening to find shared goals.

Senator Daines confirmed support for flexibility in the PPP program based on real-time feedback from small businesses.

• The legislation was adjusted to extend the payroll coverage period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks due to slower business reopening timelines.
• The allowable non-payroll expense limit for forgiveness was reduced from 75% to 60% to provide greater flexibility for businesses.
• Senators Daines and King (Ranking Member on Small Business Committee) co-sponsored the "Flexibility Act" to address these specific administrative needs.

Small businesses are characterized as critical economic catalysts and primary sources of ground-level intelligence.

• In New Hampshire, 99% of businesses are small businesses, employing approximately half the state's workforce.
• Small business owners demonstrated rapid adaptability during the pandemic, such as manufacturers pivoting production to create personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Senators noted that feedback from these owners was essential for identifying "rough edges" in the PPP that government data alone could not reveal.

Leadership advice for small business owners facing crisis conditions includes:

• Prioritizing transparency by clearly communicating challenges and decision-making logic to employees, customers, and the community.
• Engaging in creative problem-solving, such as proposing part-time work arrangements paired with partial unemployment benefits.
• Accepting that difficult decisions during a crisis may invite criticism but should be guided by the well-being of the community and workforce.

Senators acknowledged the dynamic nature of the economic situation, noting that conditions could change significantly within four to eight weeks.

• Ongoing dialogue between businesses and legislators is required to continuously adapt policies to evolving realities.
• The bipartisan unity seen during the initial PPP passage was driven by the historical necessity to move fast during a national emergency.