“For more than six weeks, Illinois experienced severe weather events, including flooding and tornadoes, which occurred no more than 48-hours apart.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Grundy and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes earlier this summer to receive SBA loans. These loans provide assistance to homeowners, renters, businesses to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, personal property,machinery, equipment, inventory and business assets. The designation also includes the counties that surround for Grundy and Iroquois Counties: La Salle, Kendall, Will, Kankakee, Livingston, Ford, and Vermilion Counties.

The delegation letter comes in support of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s request letter to President Obama which cited reports from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency of 44 residences, 14 businesses and one non-profit organization in Grundy and Iroquois Counties that sustained major damage and had significant uninsured losses.

“For more than six weeks, Illinois experienced severe weather events, including flooding and tornadoes, which occurred no more than 48-hours apart,” the Members wrote. “The economic impact on these communities as a result of businesses being destroyed is severe. The Governor seeks timely federal assistance from the SBA. We thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this important request and stand ready to assist in any way appropriate.”

Members signing on to the letter of support include: U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL), U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), U.S. Representative Robert Dold (R-IL), U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL), U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (R-IL), U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL), U.S. Representative Dan Lipinksi (D-IL), U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), U.S. Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL), U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL).

The full text of the letter:

— Illinois Congressional Delegation seeks federal relief for small businesses impacted by severe summer storms —