Illinois GOP lawmakers request federal loans to support small businesses

U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), and Darin LaHood (R-IL) this week joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues to request support for economic regulatory relief for counties in Illinois.

“The economic impact the pandemic is having on Illinois businesses and the local communities they serve is dire, and there is extraordinary demand for state and local government resources for emergency response,” the lawmakers wrote in a March 18 letter sent to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Assisting small businesses in recovery is of the utmost importance to these communities.”

As of this week, more than 100 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Illinois, and the governor ordered the closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars, and prohibited gatherings of 50 people or more, according to the members’ letter.

Specifically, the delegation urged Carranza to support Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s request for an SBA Economic Injury Declaration, which would provide low-interest federal loans of up to $2 million to small businesses and non-profit organizations that could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Governor Pritzker has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments,” wrote the Illinois lawmakers. “We respectfully request that you issue a SBA Economic Injury Declaration that includes all counties for which the Governor has requested such assistance, and that the loans also be offered to the counties that are contiguous to the declared counties.”