Border Business COVID–19 Rescue Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 12, 2021

Border Business COVID-19 Rescue Act

This bill requires the Small Business Administration to establish a loan program to assist border businesses that are directly impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. For the purposes of this bill, the term border business refers to a business that (1) is eligible for an economic injury disaster loan, (2) has its principal office located in the contiguous United States and is located within 25 miles of the U.S. border, (3) has fewer than 50 employees and annual revenue of $1 million or less, and (4) demonstrates a reduction in revenue from specified prior periods.

Recipients must use loan funds for purposes related to COVID-19 such as (1) providing sick leave to employees, (2) meeting increased costs arising from interrupted supply chains, or (3) paying for logistical expenses associated with border closures.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] · D–AZ

Committees

Finance Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Feb 12, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 12, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 12, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.327 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.327, 117th Congress: Border Business COVID–19 Rescue Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/327

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-02-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s327/BILLS-117s327is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:03:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.327 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.327 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.327, 117th Congress: Border Business COVID–19 Rescue Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/327

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-02-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s327/BILLS-117s327is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:03:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.327 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.327 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.327, 117th Congress: Border Business COVID–19 Rescue Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/327

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-02-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s327/BILLS-117s327is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:03:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.327 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.327 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.327, 117th Congress: Border Business COVID–19 Rescue Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/327

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-02-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s327/BILLS-117s327is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:03:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.327 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.