WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed, despite his vote in opposition, the Relief for Restaurants and other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022:
“Frustratingly, instead of taking quick broadly bipartisan action on replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund by repurposing unspent COVID relief funds, Speaker Pelosi insisted upon gimmick funding that would ultimately require borrowing or printing up to $55 billion, which would only further drive already out-of-control inflation. There is also a real chance that this inflation-fueling bill is dead-on-arrival in the Senate because of this make-believe funding mechanism. We must get serious about reducing reckless spending and working together to craft legislation that will both help struggling American business owners and protect future generations.”
Congressman Harris has been an advocate for restaurant owners since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a co-sponsor of H.R. 4568, the ENTRÉE Act, which would add $60 billion to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund by repurposing unspent COVID-19 relief funds.