[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), allowing borrowers 24 weeks instead of eight weeks to use their loans and greater flexibility in using the funds.

“Small businesses employ millions of Illinoisans and many of them are struggling to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m glad that the Senate acted in a bipartisan way to give small business owners more flexibility in using loan funds so they can keep their doors open and employees on the payroll.”

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

Article continues after sponsor message

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health crisis, Senator Duckworth has taken a number of actions to support small businesses. Last month, she authored bipartisan legislation to prevent the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) flagship loan program from shutting down. Duckworth joined Senator Markey to announced legislation to appropriate PPP funding better targeted towards small businesses of color, part of which was included in the Heroes Act.

Prefer RiverBender on Google
Copyright 2026 Riverbender.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

More like this:

Duckworth Announces Illinois Native and Longtime Advisor Kelsey Becker as Chief of Staff
Oct 5, 2026
Duckworth Calls for a Decisive U.S. Response to the PRC’s Weaponization of Air Travel to Help Protect Safety of Global Flying Public
Oct 4, 2026
Duckworth Urges FAA And DOD To Act On Safety Findings After DCA Crash Report
Oct 10, 2026
Duckworth, Boozman Lead Bill To Enhance Support Of Women Veterans
Sep 26, 2026
Duckworth-Hoeven Bipartisan Bills to Support the Health of Our Aviation Workforce and Strengthen Aviation Safety Pass the Senate
Sep 28, 2026