Saying American small business owners need a "Marshall Plan," 100 U.S. CEOS of large companies such as
"Small businesses are essential to our country's economic and social health," said a letter posted on the website of
The letter was also signed by heads of trade associations for restaurants, sports, franchises and the
CEOs urged lawmakers to put aside partisan bickering and extend federally guaranteed loan programs such as the
The letter was addressed to
"This is not a call for bottomless handouts," the CEOs said. "It is a defining moment to show how capitalism can benefit all Americans, particularly entrepreneurs who have been forced to shutter or reduce capacity through no fault of their own."
On
This proposed rescue program needs to be reconciled with bills passed by
The
Meanwhile, more than 30 million small businesses need emergency relief, right away, the letter said. By
"Tens of millions of Americans have already lost their jobs in this pandemic ... By year end the domino effect of lost jobs -- as well as the lost services and lost products that small business provide -- could be catastrophic," the letter continued.
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