US Congressman Ron Wright sat down with us for our Business Leaders Series last week for a discussion on the current pandemic and the federal response. Representing the 6th congressional district of Texas, Congressman Wright celebrated the small businesses of Greater Arlington and his focus on small business funding. During our virtual interview, Congressman Wright discussed the importance of passing the ‘Phase 3.5’ bill to refund the Payment Protection Program which has been a lifeline to small businesses in this unprecedented time.
The day before our interview, Tuesday, April 21, 2020, Congressman Wright sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy urging the House of Representatives to swiftly appropriate more money for the Paycheck Protect Program and ensure that a majority of assistance in future COVID-19 relief packages goes to small businesses. The letter
“Small businesses form the backbone of the American economy,” writes Congressman Wright, “I am concerned that the financial assistance provided to small businesses pales in comparison to the funding devoted to other COVID-19-related government efforts. In the CARES Act, for example, only $349 billion was allocated to the critical Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), whereas $500 billion was set aside in the Exchange Stabilization Fund for larger businesses that are better equipped to weather this pandemic without or with less government help.”
To read the letter in its entirety, CLICK HERE.
U.S. Congressman Ron Wright is a Tarrant County native and has been an active member of the greater Arlington community for decades. Congressman Wright was elected in 2018 to represent the 6th congressional district of Texas. He previously served as district director and chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Joe Barton. Wright served on the Arlington City Council as the mayor pro tempore. He was appointed as the tax assessor-collector of Tarrant County. Wright has also been a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention, the chair of the Tarrant County Historical Commission, and the president of the Arlington Night Shelter and the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation.