OCA Endorses Bill Protecting AAPI Small Businesses

Washington, DC – OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates endorses Reps. Nydia Velazquez, Judy Chu, and Grace Meng’s small business relief bill, H.R.6040 the Small Business Relief From Communicable Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act. This will allocate funds to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loan Program to provide loans to businesses struggling from economic hardship resulting from disease epidemics like the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, Asian American businesses nationwide have suffered dramatic economic losses, of up to 80% in some cases. These losses, rooted in racial fear and myths regarding coronavirus, have directly caused closures and layoffs, putting immense economic strain on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. 

By expanding the definition of “disaster” to include serious communicable diseases, the bill allows the SBA to provide direct financial aid to struggling AAPI businesses. 

The bill apportions a maximum loan of $2 million which may be increased at the discretion of the SBA. The loan program would go into effect in the event of a federally declared public health emergency and travel warning. This act would therefore create the infrastructure to provide aid to small businesses in communities, where outbreaks occur.

OCA urges allies and affiliates to endorse this bill to protect small family-run businesses, their employees, and impacted AAPI communities during outbreak situations. If you, family, or community members have experienced discrimination and/or xenophobia-driven harassment, please report this to aapihatecrimes.org. 

“Members of our community have spoken up about how coronavirus-driven racism and discrimination has hurt their business and livelihoods,” says OCA Executive Director Rita Pin Ahrens, “Having safeguard measures in place from the Small Business Administration shows support to persons affected by a public health crisis like the coronavirus.”

OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).