Mark Kelly: Congress messed up coronavirus relief for small businesses
Apr 29, 2020, 4:00 PM
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kelly says Congress botched the coronavirus relief bill when it comes to small businesses.
Kelly told Arizona’s Morning News on KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday that he’s spoken with small businesses throughout the state who have struggled to get a cut of the coronavirus relief aid.
“It’s just not working. Congress should anticipate this and should not have set up a system where hedge funds and big companies can access capital that is intended to help small businesses, so that part clearly got messed up,” Kelly said.
The initial round of coronavirus relief funding provided $349 billion to small businesses across the country, but the funds were exhausted in less than two weeks.
RELATED STORIES
During the initial round of funding, some companies like Shake Shack and the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers had received loans but later returned the money.
President Donald Trump signed another round of funding on April 24 which replenished the fund with $250 billion for loans.
Since then, the Small Business Administration’s system has been bogged down as applications for the aid pour in.
Kelly said both sides of the aisle need to come together to help out struggling Americans.
“I encourage Congress to keep the politics out of this, keep the corporate influence out of this,” Kelly said.
“Democrats and Republicans need to work together to make decisions that are going to help small business owners and help folks that are unemployed and that’s what they often miss.”
