Luria pushing SBA for answers on PPP, EIDL loans

Congresswoman Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) is pushing the SBA for answers on how it responds to questions on Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

In a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, Luria posed six questions designed to gain clarity on why constituents are experiencing delays in having their questions answered by the SBA.

1. How many SBA employees are designated to respond to small business owners’ questions regarding the PPP and EIDL applications?
2. What training have these employees received to provide expert knowledge to assist business owners?
3. How many congressional inquiries regarding the PPP and EIDL program has SBA received?
4. How many of those congressional inquiries has SBA successfully solved?
5. What is causing the delay in communicating with small business owners?
6. What steps is SBA actively taking to improve their communication with small business owners?

“Though the PPP and EIDL have helped many employers and employees alike, small business owners in our community have reported problems in communicating with the SBA,” Luria said. “Constituents have recounted long wait times with SBA’s EIDL Customer Service Center, sometimes being dropped from the call or speaking with SBA staff unfamiliar with the programs. I am concerned by these reports because Congress established and funded PPP and EIDL to support small businesses, yet SBA is not doing its part to provide guidance and clarity to program applicants.”