North Miami-Dade News

The Biden Administration's Small Business Administration has announced its implementation of the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act, a legislation introduced by Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and recently passed by the House of Representatives. The act requires the Small Business Administration to develop a plan to reclaim unused or fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the implementation of her legislation, Rep. Salazar expressed her satisfaction and emphasized the need for accountability in government. She stated, "When Congress passed my RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act last month, we sent a strong message to President Biden that we need accountability in our government. I applaud the Small Business Administration for implementing my common sense policy. Miami small business owners relied on these loans to keep the doors open during the pandemic – but bad actors took advantage of the system. We owe it to the American taxpayers to ensure frauds and cheats pay back what they stole from our communities."

Chairman Roger Williams of the Small Business Committee also commended Rep. Salazar for her work on the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act. He stated, "I applaud Congresswoman Salazar for her work on the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act. Seeing the SBA follow suit and act on this Committee's pragmatic legislation shows the impact and effectiveness of our work in Congress."

The RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act requires the Small Business Administration to establish processes to address fraudulent and unused PPP loans that were distributed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration has already published guidance regarding this legislation.

This latest achievement adds to Rep. Salazar's list of accomplishments during her two terms in Congress. Some of her other significant bills that have been passed or implemented into law include the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Act, the Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act, the PRICE Act, the Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act, and the REEF Act. These bills cover various areas such as providing economic relief, sanctioning the Ortega Regime in Nicaragua, facilitating small businesses' access to federal contracts, addressing mental health and substance abuse issues, and promoting the use of retired Navy ships as artificial reefs in marine ecosystems across America.

With the implementation of the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act, the Biden Administration is taking a proactive step towards ensuring accountability and protecting taxpayer funds.

To learn more, click on this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/biden-administration-implements-salazars-reclaim-taxpayer-funds-act