WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Entrepreneurs Need Timely Replenishment for Eating Establishments (ENTRÉE) Act, legislation that would redirect unused COVID-19 relief dollars to Utah’s restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past year, I’ve seen Washington spend and mismanage trillions in taxpayer dollars, causing historic inflation, skyrocketing prices, and decreases in real wage growth,” said Rep. Owens. “Rather than print another $55,000,000,000 that further fuels this economic crisis, Congress should consider the ENTREE Act, a commonsense piece of legislation to redirect unused taxpayer dollars back to Utah’s Fourth District to preserve our state’s 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.

The full bill text is available here.

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