Funds in the Paycheck Protection Program, the emergency small business lending program, have run out. U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark appeared on CNN today to urge Congress to pass additional funding.

We know how important this funding and assistance is to small businesses,” said Clark. “We hear from them and local chambers across the country every hour of every day.

We expect Congress to display the kind of bipartisan cooperation they displayed in getting the CARES Act done, because we know that every hour, every day counts for these small businesses in trying to pay their employees and stay afloat,” she added.

Today in a statement, Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley said, “Today’s tragic and staggering unemployment figures underscore the dire need for bridge funding to keep more Americans on the job and more businesses afloat during the coronavirus economic crisis. There is absolutely no excuse for failing to get these funds approved immediately.

ICYMI: On Wednesday, Clark appeared on Bloomberg Television and Radioto talk about reopening the economy.

The more minds we have at the table the better, especially with something unprecedented. The task force the administration has put together has phenomenal names across a bunch of sectors,” Clark said. “We have been working with the White House directly on the overall framework and guidelines and with our members in each of the sectors about specifics.”