What is the  “paycheck protection program?”

The bill creates a “paycheck protection program” for small employers, self-employed individuals, and “gig economy” workers, with $350 billion to help prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. the “Paycheck Protection Program” would provide 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to small employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If the employer maintains its payroll, the portion of the loans used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven, which would help workers to remain employed and affected small businesses and our economy to recover quickly from this crisis. This proposal would be retroactive to February 15, 2020, to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls.

How does the latest version of the CARES package help distressed industries?

It invests $500 billion for distressed industries:

•       $50 billion for airlines
•       $25 for other industries related to national defense
•       $425 billion in a facility that the Treasury will create (trying to define broadly in terms of eligibility)

How does the latest version of CARES package protect workers, not boost executive compensation?

Employee and executive total compensation may not exceed $425,000, stock buybacks are prohibited during the duration of the loan, and borrowers must maintain exiting payroll as of March 13

(Updated 3/28)