Warren Buffett Says Congress 'Owes It to' Small Businesses to Renew PPP Loan Program On 12/15/20 at 1:49 PM EST As pressure mounts on lawmakers to pass another round of economic relief before Congress adjourns for Christmas, the allocation of funding continues to be debated. While Senator Bernie Sanders has pushed Democrats to reject any bill that leaves out direct payments—like the $1,200 checks included in the CARES Act—Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett is urging Congress to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In a Tuesday interview with CNBC's Squawk Box, Buffett said the first round of federal aid saved the economy from being as devastated as it was during the 2008 financial crisis. But, he added, the coronavirus pandemic has brought about an "economic war."