As you read this, it helps to have a soundtrack of a sad trombone playing in your head. Under the new COVID-19 relief bill, the Paycheck Protection Program is closed to lobbying organizations.

‘(vi) PROHIBITION.—

None of the proceeds of a covered loan may be used for—

‘‘(I) lobbying activities, as defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602);

‘‘(II) lobbying expenditures related to a State or local election; or

‘‘(III) expenditures designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or Executive order proposed or pending before Congress or any State government, State legislature, or local legislature or legislative body.’’

That’s a pretty wide prohibition – if you lobby federal, state and local legislatures NO PPP 4 YOU! But take heart lobbyists, you can use your own funds to lobby Congress to strip that prohibition in some future COVID-19 relief bill.