For Immediate Release

Contact:
Sam Gerard, sgerard@americanhumanist.org

(May 22, 2020, Washington, DC) – Leaders at the American Humanist Association registered their opposition to House of Representatives Bill 6886, which would allow businesses to reallocate forgivable portions of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan away from paychecks, among other changes.

“Paycheck protection loans may soon bypass their intended purpose and become business protection loans,” AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt expressed. “This bill will cause an alarming shift from relief for individuals to relief for institutions—thus shattering accountability for most small businesses to pay their staff.”

Current rules outlined by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) stipulate that 75 percent of forgivable PPP loans must go to payroll—however, the upcoming bill, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), nulls this provision that puts people first.

Additionally, the AHA is gravely concerned for the ramifications of House Bill regarding government relief to religious institutions—as it allows those institutions to use a greater portion of federal funding to pay for non-personnel expenditures, like mortgages and utilities.

“As a result of this bill, we will witness greater entanglement of federal funding and religious institutions—making churches less accountable with taxpayer dollars,” Speckhardt continued. “House Bill 6886 has progressed without much regard for the constitutionality of its contents—and I hope members of Congress recognize this lapse before a vote. We shouldn’t put religious institutions before people.”

The House of Representatives will likely vote on House Bill 6886 next week. The AHA calls on members of Congress to oppose House Bill 6886 to ensure protections for people and preserve the separation of church and state.

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.