Job Creators Network Reacts to Weekly Unemployment Claims Report & PPP Running Out of Money

Washington, DC – (April 16, 2020) — New data released by the Department of Labor reveals the number of first-time unemployment claims was 5.2 million last week. This brings the total to 22 million initial filings over the last four weeks.

Alfredo Ortiz, President and CEO of the Job Creators Network, released the following statement:

“The jobless claims would have been higher were it not for the Paycheck Protection Program. Millions of small businesses are hanging in the balance, millions of lives and livelihoods are on the line right now. We are losing 33,000 jobs every hour of every day. These numbers will continue to rise and we must move quickly and provide another supplement of loans to small business. Based on the success and clear need, not only should Senate Democrats stop blocking the $250 billion the Administration requested, but they should work with Congress to make the PPP a $700 billion program and add an additional $100 billion.  I urge Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to table their partisan ideological game and work with the President and Republicans to get another round of supplemental loans to small business — fast — or the shutting of more small business doors will be on them.”

On Tuesday, JCN sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer urging them to work with congressional Republicans and pass a PPP extension this week. To read JCN’s letter, click here.

This morning, Mr. Ortiz was on Fox and Friends to discuss the urgency of this issue. “Blow up their emails, blow up their phones,” he said.  “We need to act fast on this.” To watch the segment, click here.