Rep. Delgado Votes to Provide Relief for Restaurants and Other Small Businesses
Statement
Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) voted to pass bipartisan legislation that would provide financial relief to tens of thousands of restaurants, food and beverage businesses and other small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Relief for Restaurants & Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022 would provide $42 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and $13 billion to establish the Hard Hit Industries Award Program -- an SBA initiative to assist small businesses from across industries that were hardest hit by the pandemic and lost revenue but were not eligible for other grants or awards. More than 170,000 eligible restaurants -- nearly two-thirds of all applicants -- were unable to access the RRF after funding ran out in a matter of weeks in 2021.
"For over two years, our restaurants and small businesses have been facing severe economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Rep. Delgado. "I was proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan which created the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, but it was clear that many businesses were left out and more was needed. Today, I voted to pass a bill to replenish the RRF and fund a program that would help other small businesses receive support. I will keep working to support our New York restaurant and small business owners as they recover from the pandemic."
This bill also amends the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program by extending the timeframe under which current award recipients are required to incur expenses and expend grant funds. The legislation would be paid for by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from prior federal programs.
In 2021, Rep. Delgado voted to support restaurants and small businesses with the American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan included Delgado's unique funding formula that helped deliver $130.2 billion directly to local governments across the United States. The formula is bringing over $400 million directly to local governments in New York's 19th Congressional District.
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