S. 3531 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3531 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 18, 2020Mr. Menendez (for himself and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To amend the Small Business Act to ensure small businesses affected by the onset of communicable diseases are eligible for disaster relief. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Business Relief From Communicable Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2020. 2. Economic injury loans for communicable diseases (a) Definition of a disaster Section 3(k)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(k)(2)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (C), striking the period and inserting ; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) a communicable disease for which the Federal Government has issued a travel alert or travel warning. . (b) Terms Section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; (2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: (E) a disaster described in section 3(k)(2)(D) for which the Federal Government has issued a public health emergency. ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: A loan made pursuant to a disaster described in subparagraph (E) shall not require the payment of interest.. (c) Applicability The amendments made by this section shall apply to a communicable disease— (1) for which the Federal Government issues a travel alert or travel warning before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) the effects of which are experienced on or after the date of enactment of this Act.