To amend section 7(b) of the Small Business Act to make disaster loans available for damages caused by prolonged power outages, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · January 22, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
This bill would expand the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program to include damages caused by prolonged power outages. Under current law, disaster loans are available only for specific types of disasters, but this legislation adds prolonged power outages to that list, allowing affected small businesses to qualify for emergency financial assistance. A prolonged power outage would be defined as either an outage affecting at least 25 homes or businesses in a county or smaller area where properties suffer at least 40 percent damage, or an outage lasting 48 hours or longer affecting at least 25 homes or businesses in the same geographic area. Businesses receiving these disaster loans could use the funds to purchase energy resilience systems such as generators, solar panels, batteries, or microgrids, as well as to replace food and beverages destroyed during the outage. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines, as it focuses on amending the eligibility criteria for existing disaster loan programs.
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