Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation to fulfill our commitment to the small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, like the many in my Los Angeles-area district. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program have been crucial interventions to protect the industries most reliant on in-person, indoor crowds. These were some of the first businesses to close and among the last to return to full capacity. That is why we must pass this legislation to fund $42 billion in pending restaurant applications, give live venues and theaters more time and flexibility to use their funds, and create a new program for the hardest hit small businesses that still need help to keep their doors open. This bill would be paid for by going after funds stolen by fraudsters, showing the American public that the U.S. will not tolerate those who use the pandemic to take advantage of small businesses in their most dire time of need.”