“We have mouths to feed. I have 60 employees that are looking to me. How are we going to survive?” That’s what I heard from Matt Storch, who owns two restaurants in Connecticut, during a video call with local restaurant owners to discuss the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on their businesses. As cases spike, temperatures drop, and federal assistance dries up, one thing is clear: small businesses need our help.

Right now, small businesses across our state are hanging on for dear life, doing everything they can to keep their doors open and their employees on payroll. These businesses are cornerstones of our communities, and they keep our state’s economy running. This is no exaggeration –– over half of Connecticut workers are employed by small businesses.

The good news is that we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Multiple vaccine candidates are clearing early hurdles, and there is every reason to hope that they will be deployed at scale at some point next year. But we have to make sure those in need can hang on until then, and that means passing another stimulus without delay.

This should have happened a long time ago. If I could have had it my way, Senate Republicans would have let us vote on the HEROES Act, which the House of Representatives passed over 180 days ago. This comprehensive bill would increase the amount of forgivable loans available to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, send another $1,200 check to Americans, extend unemployment benefits, and provide states with the resources they need to contain this virus and prepare a massive vaccination campaign. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had no interest in even considering the legislation –– he’s sat on his hands for over six months as hundreds of Connecticut businesses have closed their doors and families have been pushed to the brink.

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Now, I’m realistic about the fact that we will need to compromise to get another stimulus passed. I’m ready to do just that, but it takes two sides to negotiate. I’m urging my Republican colleagues to come to the table and work with Democrats to get a deal done.

At the very least, any agreement should include additional money for small businesses to pay their staff and keep customers and employees safe. It should include additional assistance for American workers and families –– because we know that too many in our state are struggling to keep food on the table and pay their bills. And small businesses can’t survive if they don’t have customers with money to spend. Finally, any legislative package should include money to ensure states like Connecticut can shore up our education system, testing facilities, and vaccine distribution plan.

And while we have our work cut out for us in Washington, we can all do our part to support local stores here in Connecticut. Today is Small Business Saturday, a day where we celebrate, and spend money in, our small business retailers. So I encourage you to safely support a small business in your community. Consider ordering online from an independent bookstore or a shop that sells locally-made apparel. Support your favorite restaurant. Or make a donation to a local nonprofit that’s close to your heart.

The small businesses that power our economy need help right now. And that help can come from the government, in the form of a new stimulus bill, but it can also come from consumers, who decide to spend their dollars this holiday season at locally owned businesses. When it comes to supporting our local economy, we all have a role to play.