U.S. Senate approve new COVID-19 aid package

Both Democratic Illinois senators signed off Tuesday on $483 billion in new funds that, in part, support hospitals, healthcare workers and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin joined their colleagues in unanimously approving the package. The House is expected to take up the measure on Thursday.

Most of the funding, $331 billion, would go to boost a small-business payroll loan program that ran out of money last week, according to the Associated Press. An additional $75 billion would be given to hospitals, and $25 billion would be spent to boost testing for the virus.

“Along with providing for healthcare workers and hospitals, this bill also replenishes the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses across the country access the funding they need to weather this storm,” Duckworth said in a statement.

Durbin could not be reached for comment.

While pleased with its passage, Duckworth said she was “extremely disappointed” the plan does not provide funds for local and state governments whose budgets have been hit hard by the pandemic.

“It’s absolutely critical they are included in the next package and that we provide them – and the first responders who we all rely on that they fund – with the supplies and resources they need to protect our communities during this public crisis,” she said.

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