WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) was named a “Guardian of Small Business” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in recognition of his consistent support for policies that support small businesses, which account for 93.6% of all businesses in OH-14.

“Having lived my entire life in Northeast Ohio, I’ve seen firsthand how our small businesses create jobs, drive innovation, support our economy and give back to their communities,” said Joyce. “I’ve also seen the devastating impact this pandemic has had on those businesses. I’m proud to fight for policies that help ensure our small businesses can be successful, even during these tough times and am humbled to be recognized as a ‘Guardian of Small Business’ by the men and women of the NFIB. I will continue to do everything in my power to provide Northeast Ohio’s small businesses with the resources they need to tackle the challenges that lie ahead, keep their employees on payroll, and continue contributing to their communities.”

“The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is awarded to lawmakers who small businesses can truly count on,” said Kevin Kuhlman, NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations. “These Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are dedicated supporters of the key issues that our members are concerned about and have proven themselves to be real champions for small business. Our policy positions are driven by our members, and we report NFIB Key Votes back to our membership. We are proud to recognize Congressman Dave Joyce for earning this distinction in the 116^th Congress by taking pro-small business votes supporting financial assistance programs and tax relief and opposing new regulations and increased labor costs. Small business owners across the country need their support now more than ever during these unprecedented times, and we are grateful to Congressman Joyce for his leadership.”

“Congressman Dave Joyce has earned the Guardian of Small Business in Congress through his unwavering support of the small business owners in his district,” said Roger Geiger, Executive Director for NFIB in Ohio. “Throughout his service, he has reached out to and met face to face with NFIB members so he can better understand the issues facing entrepreneurs. We appreciate him listening, and this honor is well deserved.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there was a total of 15,527 small businesses in OH-14 with more than 171,000 employees prior to the pandemic. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has left many of those businesses struggling to stay afloat and keep their workers on payroll. Joyce has been a fierce advocate for these small businesses, working to ensure they receive the resources necessary to survive these tough times. In March, he votedfor the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP has provided more than five million loans to small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs and over 80% of all small business employees. In total, 6,691 businesses in OH-14 have received a PPP loan, helping to save 77,899 jobs across Northeast Ohio. Since the creation of PPP, Joyce has introduced legislationto improve the program, voted to provide it with additional fundingand co-sponsored a billthat would allow distressed small businesses to apply for a second loan. Most recently, Joyce signed a discharge petitionto bring that common sense legislation to the House floor for a vote, as it would allow small businesses who need additional assistance to access the $138 billion in unspent PPP funds.

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