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H.R. 6344 116th Congress House

Expediting the EIDL Program Act of 2020

Official title: To modify the economic injury disaster loan of the Small Business Administration in response to COVID-19, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 23, 2020 Introduced by: Dwight Evans Democratic · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
Commerce Business recordsCardiovascular and respiratory healthCommutingComputers and information technology
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Disaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee leaveGovernment lending and loan guaranteesInfectious and parasitic diseasesInterest, dividends, interest ratesSmall business
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 23, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Mar 23, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 23, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Expediting the EIDL Program Act of 2020

This bill modifies the disbursement of economic injury disaster loans by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with respect to such loans made in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

Specifically, the bill authorizes the SBA to increase the amount of a disaster loan to a small business by 20% to cover costs related to continuity of operations and risk mitigation improvements. The bill also authorizes the SBA to make such loans to startups and to waive rules related to affiliation, and it requires the SBA to waive the personal guarantee requirement on such loans made to cooperatives.

In addition, an applicant for a disaster loan may request an advance on such loan up to a specified amount, and they shall not be required to repay any amount of an advance if they are subsequently denied a disaster loan. The bill also authorizes the SBA to approve an applicant for a disaster loan that is below a certain amount based solely on the applicant's credit score and to use alternative methods to determine such applicant's ability to repay.

Further, the bill establishes a maximum interest rate on a disaster loan based on an applicant's ability to obtain credit elsewhere, and it expands the qualifying events for which a disaster loan may be awarded to include emergencies involving federal primary responsibility.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6312 COVID–19 Relief for Small Businesses Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6344: Expediting the EIDL Program Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6344/
MLA
"H.R. 6344: Expediting the EIDL Program Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6344/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6344, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6344/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6344: Expediting the EIDL Program Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6344/)
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