VICTORY FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!
New Paycheck Protection Program Offers Real Relief for Small Business
> > > Religious Nonprofits now included, too!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
info@capitolhillprayer.org
The Daily Brief
"Praying for All in Authority"
Saturday, April 4, 2020
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)
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“Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ
The New Paycheck Protection Program!
New Paycheck Protection Program Offers Real Relief for Small Business
Good morning, folks. In case you had not yet heard, we just wanted to let you know of yet another victory for religious liberty delivered by the Trump-Pence Administration.
Linked below is a Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) document from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that answers key questions about the participation of faith-based organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance. Also below is SBA's Interim Final Rule (IFR), clarifying that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) prevents the application of the affiliation rules to faith-based organizations for whom affiliation is a part of religious exercise (so they don't have to aggregate their employee numbers)
-- Teller, Paul S. EOP/OVP
Millions of Americans are staring into the abyss. They are scared that they or their family will fall victim to a deadly global pandemic and paralyzed at the prospect of businesses closing, paychecks vanishing, and personal savings evaporating. They need cash and they need it fast.
"We cannot solve the economic crisis until we solve the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus, but we can take steps to ease the financial pain for our nation's employers and their employees. And that is what Congress did last week," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) writes for Fox Business.
The $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program "will immediately get cash in the hands of small and midsize businesses to keep Americans tied to their jobs." As long as employers use the loan "for payroll costs like salaries and cash tips, as well as debt obligations like mortgage, rent, utilities, and insurance premiums, it would be forgiven in full."
. . . This $350 billion program - a bipartisan effort developed with Senators Susan Collins, R-Me., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Ben Cardin, D-Md. and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., - will immediately get cash in the hands of small and midsize businesses to keep Americans tied to their jobs. (Read more)
(Source: Fox News)
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Good News! Religious Non-Profits Qualify!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING PARTICIPATION OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) AND THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM (EIDL)
1. Are faith-based organizations, including houses of worship, eligible to receive SBA loans under the PPP and EIDL programs?
Yes, and we additionally clarify that faith-based organizations are eligible to receive SBA loans regardless of whether they provide secular social services. That is, no otherwise eligible organization will be disqualified from receiving a loan because of the religious nature, religious identity, or religious speech of the organization. The requirements in certain SBA regulations- 13 C.F.R. §§ 120.110(k) and 123.301(g)-impermissibly exclude some religious entities. Because those regulations bar the participation of a class of potential recipients based solely on their religious status, SBA will decline to enforce these subsections and will propose amendments to conform those regulations to the Constitution. Although 13 C.F.R. § 120.110(a) states that nonprofit entities are ineligible for SBA business loans (which includes the PPP program), the CARES Act explicitly makes nonprofit entities eligible for the PPP program and it does so without regard to whether nonprofit entities provide secular social services.
2. How will churches qualify if have not been informed of tax-exempt status by the IRS? Do organizations have to request and receive tax exempt status or just meet the requirements of 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
Churches (including temples, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship), integrated auxiliaries of churches, and conventions or associations of churches qualify for PPP and EIDL loans as long as they meet the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all other PPP and EIDL requirements. Such organizations are not required to apply to the IRS to receive tax-exempt status. See 26 U.S.C. § 508(c)(1)(A)
3. Will my organization be sacrificing its autonomy or its First Amendment or statutory rights if it requests and receives a loan?
No. Receipt of a loan through any SBA program does not (1) limit the authority of religious organizations to define the standards, responsibilities, and duties of membership; (2) limit the freedom of religious organizations to select individuals to perform work connected to that organization's religious exercise; nor (3) constitute waiver of any rights under federal law, including rights protecting religious autonomy and exercise under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000b et seq., Section 702 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-1(a), or the First Amendment. Simply put, a faith-based organization that receives a loan will retain its independence, autonomy, right of expression, religious character, and authority over its governance, and no faith-based organization will be excluded from receiving funding because leadership with, membership in, or employment by that organization is limited to persons who share its religious faith and practice
> > > Read all 8 FAQ's about this new ruling by going here.
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Read the Final Rule Here
Paycheck Protection Program Affiliation Interim Rule
To read the final determination of this new rule, published by the Small Business Administration, please go here.
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About CHPP
About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Our Mission Statement
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
Because Jesus Christ has shed His blood for all, we, too, pray for ALL, in a nonpartisan manner. Also, because the scriptures indicate that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 4:17), we are confident that fervent prayer, offered in the halls of the highest chambers of government in our land, can avail much for America. Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes those who feel called to join us, engaging in this strategic work of intercession for our nation: "For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." [Romans 13:1]
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at info@capitolhillprayer.org requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.
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We Welcome Your Gifts
We Welcome Your Gifts
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a 501(c)(3), tax- exempt, faith-based, ministry, dedicated to praying for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). CHPP relies solely on the gifts of our readers to continue this work; thus we greatly appreciate your help in supporting this publication. Offerings may be sent to: Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, P.O. Box 5152, Herndon, VA 20172-1970. Please make checks payable to: CHPP. THANK YOU!
DONATE ONLINE!
Now you can also donate online by going here. Or . . . if you prefer, simply paste this link into your browser to access our secure online donor system:
https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=3B77E058-983E-4415-AA4E-2F82ED1A4DEA#
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philippians 4:23)
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Reading the Bible Together
WELCOME TO OUR BIBLE READATHON!
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14)
> > > Reading the Word of God over our nation, six nights per week!! ALL NIGHT LONG!
We are now reading the Word of God every night (except on Sunday mornings) from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EDT. We are reading through the whole Word, from Genesis to Revelation, and beginning again in Genesis when finished. [As of this writing, over the past three years, we have now "read through" the entire Word of God sixty-five times, nonstop. Hallelujah!]
Our numbers of readers continues to grow over time. All are welcome to join, as we use "the weapons of OUR warfare" to confront our enemy and BRING HIM DOWN through the LOVE of our Messiah and, by faith, setting captives free!
Our conference number is: 712-432-0075. The access code is: 206425#.
Please call at any time from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EST! EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN OUR "WARFARE IN THE NIGHT", USING THE WEAPON OF HIS WARFARE - THE WORD OF GOD!
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
> > > A footnote: 2020 has been declared "the Year of the Bible."
Hallelujah!!
Please join us as, together, we "soak the very atmosphere of our nation" in the WORD OF GOD!
In closing, let us decree together that . . .
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
AMEN!!
Reminder!
Our conference number is: 712-432-0075.
The access code is: 206425#.
And . . . once again . . . welcome!
Sara Ballenger, President
Janet Dibble, Bible Readathon Coordinator
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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Time to Repent!
Time to Repent!
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)
