Washington D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, called on Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to let committee Democrats work with Republicans on a bipartisan deal to provide additional relief to small businesses. Last month, Rubio penned an op-ed revealing that “some of [his] more sensible colleagues have” admitted that “Democrats continue to play politics and use small business owners and employees as leverage for other negotiations.”
“Last month, I said publicly what most of us — including some of my more sensible Democrat colleagues — have known privately for some time: Democrat leaders continue to play politics and use small business owners and employees as leverage for other negotiations,” Chairman Rubio said. “There might be just days left in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation will continue in the new year. It’s time for Senator Schumer to let Democrat senators do what they should have done months ago. I am confident Ranking Member Cardin and I can quickly secure a bipartisan deal to provide small businesses with additional aid. Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans have made clear we are standing by and ready to work. It’s time to put the political gamesmanship aside and get this done.”
Senate Republicans unveiled a targeted relief package that includes $332.7 billion in small business relief, including $257.7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). An additional $40 billion is included to increase the PPP loan amount for covered worker protection expenditures in order to help “front-line” sectors like restaurants and personal services, and a $15 billion grant program for shuttered theaters and venues. A section by section is available here.
“Last month, I said publicly what most of us — including some of my more sensible Democrat colleagues — have known privately for some time: Democrat leaders continue to play politics and use small business owners and employees as leverage for other negotiations,” Chairman Rubio said. “There might be just days left in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation will continue in the new year. It’s time for Senator Schumer to let Democrat senators do what they should have done months ago. I am confident Ranking Member Cardin and I can quickly secure a bipartisan deal to provide small businesses with additional aid. Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans have made clear we are standing by and ready to work. It’s time to put the political gamesmanship aside and get this done.”
Senate Republicans unveiled a targeted relief package that includes $332.7 billion in small business relief, including $257.7 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). An additional $40 billion is included to increase the PPP loan amount for covered worker protection expenditures in order to help “front-line” sectors like restaurants and personal services, and a $15 billion grant program for shuttered theaters and venues. A section by section is available here.