In preparation for the development of the next coronavirus relief package, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has made it a priority to hear from business and community leaders across the state. On Wednesday, more than 250 business and community leaders joined the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Town Hall with Senator Cruz to share the resources and help businesses in San Antonio need to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Senator Cruz opened the town hall by laying out the three major crisis we are facing. The first is a public health crisis, second is an economic crisis and the third is an energy crisis right here in Texas. While each are complex, he is working tirelessly to address them and says the CARES Act was the first step to solving the public health and economic crisis.
Cruz had four priorities for the CARES Act:
- Testing, understanding the importance of increasing access,
- Personal protective equipment (PPE),
- Critical medical equipment, and
- Streamlining the federal regulatory process to help with a vaccine and treatment.
A supplemental CARES Act and a fourth Coronavirus Relief Package are what’s coming next, according to the Senator. The supplemental bill will focus on more funding for the Small Business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The $349 billion Small Business PPP has officially run out of money and is unable to enroll new PPP lenders at this time. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and Senator Cruz reiterated the urgency of extending the funding for this program. His office is working with the SBA to cut red tape to help streamline the process for small businesses.
Cruz emphasized his priority is “to protect life and drive the economy forward”. When it comes to a fourth Coronavirus relief package, he wants it to be an economic recovery bill focused on tax and regulatory reform that will drive the economy forward. He said he is also supportive of an infrastructure bill. However, Cruz said no amount of government funding will get the economy to recover, instead he would like to see young healthy Texans safely get back to work. Cruz does not expect to see a fourth stimulus package until the end of April, at the earliest.
Cruz thanked the Chamber and business leaders on the phone for their leadership. He concluded his remarks with some words of encouragement. “We’re going to make it through this. Texans are strong and resilient; Americans are strong and resilient. We have faced huge challenges before. Well get through this by coming together uniting, standing strong together. I am proud and honored to stand side by side with each of you as Texans as we overcome these crises today.”
Please contact Stephanie Reyes, VP of Public Policy at
sreyes@sachamber.org with any questions regarding the Chamber’s Town Hall featuring Senator Cruz.
