Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, released the following statement after a bipartisan, bicameral group of members presented a COVID Relief Framework that includes $288 billion for small business relief, including a second draw of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and additional funding for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), restaurants, live entertainment venues, and more. 
 
“I applaud my colleagues for coming together to provide a COVID Relief Framework, including a much-needed second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses,” Chairman Rubio said. “However, it is important to note that at its current level, the proposal barely provides enough to fund a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans, and does not provide sufficient funds to help small businesses, restaurants, entertainment venues, and others to help them weather the second wave.”
 
“Democrat congressional leaders held small businesses and their employees hostage for months, so I am encouraged that some of my Democratic colleagues are stepping forward to provide long overdue assistance,” Rubio continued. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass additional relief as soon as possible.”