Lawmaker Asks Treasury to Address Concerns With Coronavirus Act

March 20, 2020

The Honorable Steven Mnuchin
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1801 L St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Secretary Mnuchin,

This is an unprecedented time in our country’s history. Uncertain times call for decisive action and prudent leadership. I want to applaud the work you and your team are doing to blunt the economic damage this pandemic is causing hardworking Americans.

I do have serious concerns with some unintended consequences of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the implications it could have on small businesses across Utah. I am hoping you can offer clarity and act with urgency to address these very legitimate concerns.

I have heard from small business owners who are worried about how they will afford this new set of required paid leave benefits. Unfortunately, in many instances, this could bankrupt businesses if done incorrectly, and potentially force an employer to layoff employees. The intent of this legislation was to help employees and employers during a time of need, not make their survival through this temporary hardship more difficult.

On behalf of the countless small businesses that I represent, I urge you to please act to consider these issues as you issue subsequent regulations for qualified businesses to follow:

• Ensure the Department of the Treasury can offer small businesses payments in advance if waiting to receive their tax credits would be harmful to the employee in addition to jeopardizing their business;

• Establish a clear set of guidelines or requirements for employees to follow in order to prove eligibility to avoid systematic fraud and abuse;

• Permit regulatory flexibility in the emergency paid leave program to account for subsequent developments as more information regarding the virus emerges.

Thank you for your continued attention to this matter. Your guidance and diligence are critical to ensuring America’s small businesses and their employees remain healthy and prosperous in the future. I look forward to hopefully hearing from your office soon.

Sincerely,

John R. Curtis
Member of Congress