# Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act

When wildfires rage across the country, the smoke doesn't just affect people's health—it can seriously hurt businesses. This bill creates a way for small businesses to get financial help when wildfire smoke damages their operations. If a business loses customers or revenue because smoke makes it hard for people to visit or work, or if the smoke forces them to close temporarily, they can now access recovery assistance through this program.

The bill recognizes that wildfire smoke creates real economic hardship beyond just the fire itself. A restaurant might see customers stay away because of poor air quality. A retail store might have to close due to health concerns. A service business might lose productivity when employees can't work safely. Rather than leaving these businesses to absorb these losses on their own, this act provides a mechanism for them to recover some of their lost income and get back on their feet.

The program specifically targets small businesses, which are often the most vulnerable when disasters strike. Unlike large corporations with deep financial reserves, small business owners typically operate with tighter margins and can't easily weather extended periods of lost revenue. By providing recovery assistance tied to wildfire smoke events, the bill aims to prevent small businesses from going under during these environmental crises and help communities rebuild their local economies more quickly after smoke clears.

Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act

Cortez Masto, Catherine

Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act This bill includes smoke within the definition of a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations.