Stefanik Works to Support Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19

Press Release

Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Elise Stefanik today cosponsored the Entrepreneurs Need Timely Replenishment for Eating Establishments (ENTRÉE) Act, legislation that would redirect unused COVID-19 relief dollars to American restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stefanik joined her colleagues in this effort as restaurant owners have been working tirelessly to serve their employees and communities in the midst of industry changes due to COVID-19.

"Democrats passed reckless spending packages that were bloated, mismanaged, and poorly utilized," Congresswoman Stefanik said. "I am proud to be working to direct taxpayer dollars back to our district to help preserve these essential businesses."

Specifically, the ENTRÉE Act would:

Provide $60 billion to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund using already allocated COVID relief funds that have not yet been spent;
Require all applications to be received, reviewed, processed, and disbursed on a first come, first served basis; and
Increase oversight responsibilities and audit requirements for the SBA to safeguard American taxpayer dollars.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Stefanik has been quick to support restaurants mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19. In 2020, she was an original cosponsor of the Restaurants Act.

The ENTRÉE Act enjoys broad support from the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and Lewis County Chamber of Commerce across the North Country.

"We still have several restaurants in our region who need assistance and were left out of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund," said Michael Bittel, President and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. "Reallocating and targeting funds to help our restaurants who continue to struggle is much needed."

"Whether it was social distancing mandates, supply shortages, limited staff or procedural changes most restaurants faced many challenges over the last year and a half," said Kristen Aucter, Executive Director, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce. "Through it all, they forged ahead and made the most out of the situation they found themselves in. Having additional funding, like that proposed by the ENTRÉE Act, will allow many of them to continue to evolve into who they will need to be moving forward to continued success."

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