CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sen. Thom Tillis announced Friday that lawmakers are working to replenish the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program to assist businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.
On Thursday, Tillis asked for a Helene relief bill to be passed by unanimous consent, but Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky opposed the measure. Paul's dissent drew the ire of Tillis, who suggested his fellow Republican was grandstanding over an amendment to the bill he knew wouldn't pass.
Tillis said Friday that the measure he attempted to push through would send $500 million to the SBA's disaster loan program, which ran out of money last month. He said replenishing the fund is critical for North Carolina businesses that lost tourism revenue due to Helene. Tillis also pushed back against conspiracy theories suggesting the federal government is simply not paying out hurricane relief funds.
"There are people now who are receiving an approved application from the Small Business Administration and now are bein told that they will be receiving the funds as soon as Congress appropriates," Tillis said. "So the notion that the Small Business Administration is holding back money is false."
Tillis warned that delaying relief money could cause businesses in western North Carolina to close down. Until Congress acts to refill the program, applicants won't receive their money. That includes billions in lost crops across the Southeast, according to Tillis.
"When you have tens of thousands of people hurting in western North Carolina, thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, this is not the time to worry about the debates that we're having in Washington," Tillis said.
Tillis vowed to keep fighting for aid until he secures money for western North Carolina businesses.
"They cannot make it through winter," he said. "They've lost their peak season month of October, November and in December, they can't make it through winter unless we provide support."