Schneider Votes for Additional Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals, Testing

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), a member of the House Small Business Committee, released the following statement after his vote for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act:

"This interim emergency package offers critical help to small businesses in Illinois and around the country that are in a desperate need. Through effective negotiations, I am proud Democrats increased the amount of funding to $310 billion for the small business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and also secured resources to expand the capacity of the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program by more than $300 billion dollars. Further, we ensured set-asides of $60 billion of funds for small community-based lenders to help get this money to the small businesses that most need our help. We must not have more stories of large, publicly-traded companies securing funding intended for small businesses and I expect the Trump Administration to do a better, more transparent job distributing this second phase of funding.

"I also applaud the $75 billion in this package for desperately stressed hospitals and health care workers, including for personal protective equipment (PPE). Lastly, the legislation includes $25 billion for testing, and a commitment by the Administration to pursue a national testing strategy, which is an important step in the right direction. I have long been calling for a coordinated national response on medical supply chain issues and testing shortages, and will continue to advocate for a non-political supply chain ‘czar' to direct our national response.

"This will not be the last bill responding to the coronavirus pandemic. We must do more, including helping our state and local governments on the front lines of the crisis. My hope is that Congress will be able to put aside partisan politics and work together in the same spirit of cooperation that has been displayed by the American people communities across the country."