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Schneider Statement on Additional Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals, and Testing

April 21, 2020

Today, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) released the following statement:

"I am pleased we reached an agreement with the Administration on an interim emergency package because small businesses in Illinois and around the country are in a desperate need of federal assistance. The House of Representative initially pushed for more than $500 billion for small businesses in the CARES Act last month. Not surprisingly, the $349 billion fund agreed to by the White House quickly proved insufficient to meet the demand, in particular failing to reach many of our most vulnerable local companies. Furthermore, while it is critical that Congress add funding to the depleted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), it is equally important that the funding be directed to the businesses most in need of support, and that we also increase funding for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As well, our hospitals and health and frontline workers need more personal protective equipment (PPE), and our nation needs significantly more testing. This interim bill addresses each of these issues.

"But the problems with these programs are much deeper than just lack of funding. For example, the Trump Administration failed to set clear guidelines on PPP for lenders and to communicate with applicants, which allowed larger, more sophisticated companies with existing banking relationships to jump the line to get preferential access to the money that was intended for small Main Street businesses. Many of my constituents also remain in the dark about the status of their EIDL applications and deserve answers from the SBA. The Trump Administration owes it to the American people to do a much better job administering this second phase of CARES Act relief to ensure those most in need get the help they deserve.

"I also applaud the funding for our hospitals, and the resources for expanded testing, which will be necessary to ensure our communities are prepared to re-open. I am disappointed that the White House and congressional Republicans stonewalled our attempts to secure help for the states and local governments on the front lines of this crisis. I will redouble my efforts to secure this funding in the next package, because we must find a path forward to provide federal resources to the states and local governments facing catastrophic economic realities created by this pandemic."