SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act
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- Congressional materials
- Document type
- Crpt 119Hrpt226
- Case
- Crpt 119Hrpt226
Summary
House Report 119–226 of the 119th Congress, 1st Session, on the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, submitted August 15, 2025 by Mr. Williams of Texas from the Committee on Small Business to accompany H.R. 4495. The committee reports the bill favorably without amendment; it states that the bill extends the statute of limitations for fraud in the SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Restaurant Revitalization Fund programs from 5 to 10 years. The report describes SVOG as providing over $16 billion in grants and RRF as providing $28.6 billion, and records that the committee ordered the bill reported on July 22, 2025 by a roll call vote of 23 ayes and 0 nos. It includes a section-by-section analysis, the required House rule statements, changes in existing law to section 324 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and minority views signed by Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez.
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Full text
119TH CONGRESS REPORT
" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES !
1st Session 119–226
SBA FRAUD ENFORCEMENT EXTENSION ACT
AUGUST 15, 2025.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State
of the Union and ordered to be printed
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, from the Committee on Small Business,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 4495]
The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 4495) to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under cer-
tain pandemic programs, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and rec-
ommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Bill Summary ........................................................................ 2
II. Need for Legislation .................................................................................... 2
III. Hearings ....................................................................................................... 2
IV. Committee Consideration ........................................................................... 2
V. Committee Votes ......................................................................................... 3
VI. Section-by-Section of H.R. 4495 ................................................................. 5
VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 5
VIII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 5
IX. Oversight Findings & Recommendations .................................................. 5
X. Performance Goals and Objectives ............................................................ 5
XI. Statement of Duplication of Federal Programs ........................................ 5
XII. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits ..................................................................................................... 6
XIII. Federal Mandates Statement ..................................................................... 6
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 6
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................... 6
XVI. Statement of Constitutional Authority ...................................................... 6
XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 6
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XVIII. Minority Views ............................................................................................ 23
59–006
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I. PURPOSE AND BILL SUMMARY
On July 17, 2025, Rep. Downing, along with Rep. Conaway, in-
troduced H.R. 4495, the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act.
H.R. 4495 increases the statute of limitations for fraud related to
the SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and Res-
taurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) programs.
II. NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 4495 is necessary to crack down on fraud and abuses within
the SBA’s SVOG and RRF programs. In the 117th Congress, the
statute of limitations was extended for two other SBA pandemic
era relief programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and
COVID–19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. How-
ever, SVOG and RRF were not extended. This bill extends the stat-
ute of limitations for SVOG and RRF programs from 5 to 10 years
to ensure those who defrauded the government are held account-
able.1
SVOG provided over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues
such as live performance venues, museums, and motion picture
theaters.2 Eligible applicants could qualify for grants equal to 45
percent of their gross earned revenue, up to a single grant award
of $10 million.3 The program stopped accepting applications on Au-
gust 20, 2021.4
RRF provided $28.6 billion in funding to restaurants and other
similar businesses that experienced revenue loss as a result of the
pandemic.5 Eligible applicants could receive funds for revenue loss
up to $10 million per business.6 Recipients were not required to
repay their funds so long as it was used for eligible purposes by
March 11, 2023.7
III. HEARINGS
On February 5, 2025, the Committee on Small Business held a
hearing examining matters related to H.R. 4495 entitled ‘‘Hope on
the Horizon: Prioritizing Small Business Growth in the 119th Con-
gress.’’
IV. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Committee on Small Business met in open session, with a
quorum being present, on July 22, 2025, and ordered H.R. 4495 to
be reported favorably to the House of Representatives by a roll call
vote of 23 ayes and 0 nos. During the markup no amendments
were offered on this bill.
1 U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GEN., REP. 23–09, COVID–19 PANDEMIC
EIDL AND PPP LOAN FRAUD LANDSCAPE, 8 (2023).
2 U.S. Small Bus. Admin. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, https://www.sba.gov/funding-
programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant (last visited Jul. 18,
2025).
3 Id.
4 Id.
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5 U.S. Small Bus. Admin. Restaurant Revitalization Fund, https://www.sba.gov/funding-
programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund (last visited Jul. 18, 2025).
6 Id.
7 Id.
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V. COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the mo-
tion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The Committee
voted to favorably report H.R. 4495 to the House of Representatives
at 11:06 AM.
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VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION OF H.R. 4495
Section 1—Short title
This bill may be cited as the ‘‘SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension
Act.’’
Section 2—Statute of limitations for certain programs
This section extends the statute of limitations from five to ten
years for fraud within SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
(SVOG) and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) programs.
This section also specifies statutes for criminal prosecution or
civil enforcement of fraudulent individuals who received funds
through the SVOG and RRF programs.
VII. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the
time this report was filed, the Committee has requested but not re-
ceived a cost estimate from the Director of the Congressional Budg-
et Office.
VIII. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY,
AND TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives and section 308(a)(I) of the Congressional Budg-
et Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following opinion and
estimate with respect to new budget authority, entitlement author-
ity, and tax expenditures. While the Committee has not received an
estimate of new budget authority contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee does not believe that there will be any new or increased
costs attributable to this legislation.
IX. OVERSIGHT FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the over-
sight findings and recommendations of the Committee on Small
Business with respect to the subject matter contained in H.R. 4495
are incorporated into the descriptive portions of this report.
X. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of
the Rules of the House of Representatives, the goal of H.R. 4495
is to extend the statute of limitations from five to ten years for
fraud with respect to the SBA’s SVOG and RRF programs.
XI. STATEMENT OF DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
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Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, no provision of H.R. 4495 is known to be dupli-
cative of another Federal program, including any program that was
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included in a report to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public
Law 111–139 or the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic As-
sistance.
XII. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND
LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee finds that the bill does not con-
tain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives.
XIII. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal man-
dates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation.
XV. APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or
accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Con-
gressional Accountability Act.
XVI. STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House, the
Committee finds that the authority for this legislation in Art. I, § 8,
cl.1 of the Constitution of the United States.
XVII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omit-
ted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics,
and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italics
and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
SECTION 324 OF TITLE III OF DIVISION N OF THE
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021
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SEC. 324. GRANTS FOR SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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(1) ELIGIBLE PERSON OR ENTITY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible person or entity’’
means a live venue operator or promoter, theatrical pro-
ducer, or live performing arts organization operator, a rel-
evant museum operator, a motion picture theatre operator,
or a talent representative that meets the following require-
ments:
(i) The live venue operator or promoter, theatrical
producer, or live performing arts organization oper-
ator, the relevant museum operator, the motion pic-
ture theatre operator, or the talent representative—
(I) was fully operational as a live venue operator
or promoter, theatrical producer, or live per-
forming arts organization operator, a relevant mu-
seum operator, a motion picture theatre operator,
or a talent representative on February 29, 2020;
and
(II) has gross earned revenue during the first,
second, third, or, only with respect to an applica-
tion submitted on or after January 1, 2021, fourth
quarter in 2020 that demonstrates not less than a
25 percent reduction from the gross earned rev-
enue of the live venue operator or promoter, theat-
rical producer, or live performing arts organiza-
tion operator, the relevant museum operator, the
motion picture theatre operator, or the talent rep-
resentative during the same quarter in 2019.
(ii) As of the date of the grant under this section—
(I) the live venue operator or promoter, theat-
rical producer, or live performing arts organiza-
tion operator is or intends to resume organizing,
promoting, producing, managing, or hosting future
live events described in paragraph (3)(A)(i);
(II) the motion picture theatre operator is open
or intends to reopen for the primary purpose of
public exhibition of motion pictures;
(III) the relevant museum operator is open or
intends to reopen; or
(IV) the talent representative is representing or
managing artists and entertainers.
(iii) The venues at which the live venue operator or
promoter, theatrical producer, or live performing arts
organization operator promotes, produces, manages, or
hosts events described in paragraph (3)(A)(i) or the
artists and entertainers represented or managed by
the talent representative perform have the following
characteristics:
(I) A defined performance and audience space.
(II) Mixing equipment, a public address system,
and a lighting rig.
(III) Engages 1 or more individuals to carry out
not less than 2 of the following roles:
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(aa) A sound engineer.
(bb) A booker.
(cc) A promoter.
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(dd) A stage manager.
(ee) Security personnel.
(ff) A box office manager.
(IV) There is a paid ticket or cover charge to at-
tend most performances and artists are paid fairly
and do not play for free or solely for tips, except
for fundraisers or similar charitable events.
(V) For a venue owned or operated by a non-
profit entity that produces free events, the events
are produced and managed primarily by paid em-
ployees, not by volunteers.
(VI) Performances are marketed through list-
ings in printed or electronic publications, on
websites, by mass email, or on social media.
(iv) A motion picture theatre or motion picture thea-
tres operated by the motion picture theatre operator
have the following characteristics:
(I) At least 1 auditorium that includes a motion
picture screen and fixed audience seating.
(II) A projection booth or space containing not
less than 1 motion picture projector.
(III) A paid ticket charge to attend exhibition of
motion pictures.
(IV) Motion picture exhibitions are marketed
through showtime listings in printed or electronic
publications, on websites, by mass mail, or on so-
cial media.
(v) The relevant museum or relevant museums for
which the relevant museum operator is seeking a
grant under this section have the following character-
istics:
(I) Serving as a relevant museum as its prin-
cipal business activity.
(II) Indoor exhibition spaces that are a compo-
nent of the principal business activity and which
have been subjected to pandemic-related occu-
pancy restrictions.
(III) At least 1 auditorium, theater, or perform-
ance or lecture hall with fixed audience seating
and regular programming.
(vi)(I) The live venue operator or promoter, theat-
rical producer, or live performing arts organization op-
erator, the relevant museum operator, the motion pic-
ture theatre operator, or the talent representative does
not have, or is not majority owned or controlled by an
entity with, any of the following characteristics:
(aa) Being an issuer, the securities of which
are listed on a national securities exchange.
(bb) Receiving more than 10 percent of
gross revenue from Federal funding during
2019, excluding amounts received by the live
venue operator or promoter, theatrical pro-
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ducer, or live performing arts organization op-
erator, the relevant museum operator, the
motion picture theatre operator, or the talent
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representative under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
(II) The live venue operator or promoter, theat-
rical producer, or live performing arts organiza-
tion operator, the relevant museum operator, the
motion picture theatre operator, or the talent rep-
resentative does not have, or is not majority
owned or controlled by an entity with, more than
2 of the following characteristics:
(aa) Owning or operating venues, relevant
museums, motion picture theatres, or talent
agencies or talent management companies in
more than 1 country.
(bb) Owning or operating venues, relevant
museums, motion picture theatres, or talent
agencies or talent management companies in
more than 10 States.
(cc) Employing more than 500 employees as
of February 29, 2020, determined on a full-
time equivalent basis in accordance with sub-
paragraph (C).
(III) For purposes of applying the characteristics
described in subclauses (I) and (II) to an entity
owned by a State or a political subdivision of a
State, the relevant entity—
(aa) shall be the live venue operator or pro-
moter, theatrical producer, or live performing
arts organization operator, the relevant mu-
seum operator, the motion picture theatre op-
erator, or the talent representative; and
(bb) shall not include entities of the State or
political subdivision other than the live venue
operator or promoter, theatrical producer, or
live performing arts organization operator,
the relevant museum operator, the motion
picture theatre operator, or the talent rep-
resentative.
(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘eligible person or entity’’
shall not include a live venue operator or promoter, theat-
rical producer, or live performing arts organization oper-
ator, a relevant museum operator, a motion picture theatre
operator, or a talent representative that—
(i) presents live performances of a prurient sexual
nature; or
(ii) derives, directly or indirectly, more than de mini-
mis gross revenue through the sale of products or
services, or the presentation of any depictions or dis-
plays, of a prurient sexual nature.
(C) CALCULATION OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.—For pur-
poses of determining the number of full-time equivalent
employees under subparagraph (A)(vi)(II)(cc) of this para-
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graph and under paragraph (2)(E)—
(i) any employee working not fewer than 30 hours
per week shall be considered a full-time employee; and
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10
(ii) any employee working not fewer than 10 hours
and fewer than 30 hours per week shall be counted as
one-half of a full-time employee.
(D) MULTIPLE BUSINESS ENTITIES.—Each business entity
of an eligible person or entity that also meets the require-
ments under subparagraph (A) and that is not described in
subparagraph (B) shall be treated by the Administrator as
an independent, non-affiliated entity for the purposes of
this section.
(2) EXCHANGE; ISSUER; SECURITY.—The terms ‘‘exchange’’,
‘‘issuer’’, and ‘‘security’’ have the meanings given those terms
in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78c(a)).
(3) LIVE VENUE OPERATOR OR PROMOTER, THEATRICAL PRO-
DUCER, OR LIVE PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION OPERATOR.—
The term ‘‘live venue operator or promoter, theatrical producer,
or live performing arts organization operator’’—
(A) means—
(i) an individual or entity—
(I) that, as a principal business activity, orga-
nizes, promotes, produces, manages, or hosts live
concerts, comedy shows, theatrical productions, or
other events by performing artists for which—
(aa) a cover charge through ticketing or
front door entrance fee is applied; and
(bb) performers are paid in an amount that
is based on a percentage of sales, a guarantee
(in writing or standard contract), or another
mutually beneficial formal agreement; and
(II) for which not less than 70 percent of the
earned revenue of the individual or entity is gen-
erated through, to the extent related to a live
event described in subclause (I), cover charges or
ticket sales, production fees or production reim-
bursements, nonprofit educational initiatives, or
the sale of event beverages, food, or merchandise;
or
(ii) an individual or entity that, as a principal busi-
ness activity, makes available for purchase by the pub-
lic an average of not less than 60 days before the date
of the event tickets to events—
(I) described in clause (i)(I); and
(II) for which performers are paid in an amount
that is based on a percentage of sales, a guarantee
(in writing or standard contract), or another mu-
tually beneficial formal agreement; and
(B) includes an individual or entity described in sub-
paragraph (A) that—
(i) operates for profit;
(ii) is a nonprofit organization;
(iii) is government-owned; or
(iv) is a corporation, limited liability company, or
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partnership or operated as a sole proprietorship.
(4) MOTION PICTURE THEATRE OPERATOR.—The term ‘‘motion
picture theatre operator’’ means an individual or entity that—
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11
(A) as the principal business activity of the individual or
entity, owns or operates at least 1 place of public accom-
modation for the purpose of motion picture exhibition for
a fee; and
(B) includes an individual or entity described in sub-
paragraph (A) that—
(i) operates for profit;
(ii) is a nonprofit organization;
(iii) is government-owned; or
(iv) is a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership or operated as a sole proprietorship.
(5) NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE.—The term ‘‘national se-
curities exchange’’ means an exchange registered as a national
securities exchange under section 6 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f).
(6) NONPROFIT.—The term ‘‘nonprofit’’, with respect to an or-
ganization, means that the organization is exempt from tax-
ation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
(7) RELEVANT MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘relevant museum’’—
(A) has the meaning given the term ‘‘museum’’ in section
273 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C.
9172); and
(B) shall not include any entity that is organized as a
for-profit entity.
(8) SEASONAL EMPLOYER.—The term ‘‘seasonal employer’’ has
the meaning given that term in subparagraph (A) of section
7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)), as
amended by this Act.
(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means—
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D) any other territory or possession of the United
States.
(10) TALENT REPRESENTATIVE.—The term ‘‘talent representa-
tive’’—
(A) means an agent or manager that—
(i) as not less than 70 percent of the operations of
the agent or manager, is engaged in representing or
managing artists and entertainers;
(ii) books or represents musicians, comedians, ac-
tors, or similar performing artists primarily at live
events in venues or at festivals; and
(iii) represents performers described in clause (ii)
that are paid in an amount that is based on the num-
ber of tickets sold, or a similar basis; and
(B) includes an agent or manager described in subpara-
graph (A) that—
(i) operates for profit;
(ii) is a nonprofit organization;
(iii) is government-owned; or
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(iv) is a corporation, limited liability company, or
partnership or operated as a sole proprietorship.
(b) AUTHORITY.—
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12
(1) IN GENERAL.—
(A) ADMINISTRATION.—The Associate Administrator for
the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration
shall coordinate and formulate policies relating to the ad-
ministration of grants made under this section.
(B) CERTIFICATION OF NEED.—An eligible person or enti-
ty applying for a grant under this section shall submit a
good faith certification that the uncertainty of current eco-
nomic conditions makes necessary the grant to support the
ongoing operations of the eligible person or entity.
(2) INITIAL GRANTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may make initial
grants to eligible persons or entities in accordance with
this section.
(B) INITIAL PRIORITIES FOR AWARDING GRANTS.—
(i) FIRST PRIORITY IN AWARDING GRANTS.—During
the initial 14-day period during which the Adminis-
trator awards grants under this paragraph, the Ad-
ministrator shall only award grants to an eligible per-
son or entity with revenue, during the period begin-
ning on April 1, 2020 and ending on December 31,
2020, that is not more than 10 percent of the revenue
of the eligible person or entity during the period begin-
ning on April 1, 2019 and ending on December 31,
2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(ii) SECOND PRIORITY IN AWARDING GRANTS.—During
the 14-day period immediately following the 14-day
period described in clause (i), the Administrator shall
only award grants to an eligible person or entity with
revenue, during the period beginning on April 1, 2020
and ending on December 31, 2020, that is not more
than 30 percent of the revenue of the eligible person
or entity during the period beginning on April 1, 2019
and ending on December 31, 2019, due to the COVID-
19 pandemic.
(iii) DETERMINATION OF REVENUE.—For purposes of
clauses (i) and (ii)—
(I) any amounts received by an eligible person
or entity under the CARES Act (Public Law 116-
136; 134 Stat. 281) or an amendment made by the
CARES Act shall not be counted as revenue of an
eligible person or entity;
(II) the Administrator shall use an accrual
method of accounting for determining revenue;
and
(III) the Administrator may use alternative
methods to establish revenue losses for an eligible
person or entity that is a seasonal employer and
that would be adversely impacted if January, Feb-
ruary, and March are excluded from the calcula-
tion of year-over-year revenues.
(iv) LIMIT ON USE OF AMOUNTS FOR PRIORITY APPLI-
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CANTS.—The Administrator may use not more than 80
percent of the amounts appropriated under section
323(d)(1)(H) of this Act to carry out this section to
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13
make initial grants under this paragraph to eligible
persons or entities described in clause (i) or (ii) of this
subparagraph that apply for a grant under this para-
graph during the initial 28-day period during which
the Administrator awards grants under this para-
graph.
(C) GRANTS AFTER PRIORITY PERIODS.—After the end of
the initial 28-day period during which the Administrator
awards grants under this paragraph, the Administrator
may award an initial grant to any eligible person or entity.
(D) LIMITS ON NUMBER OF INITIAL GRANTS TO AFFILI-
ATES.—Not more than 5 business entities of an eligible
person or entity that would be considered affiliates under
the affiliation rules of the Administration may receive a
grant under this paragraph.
(E) SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), not less than
$2,000,000,000 of the total amount of grants made
available under this paragraph shall be awarded to el-
igible persons or entities which employ not more than
50 full-time employees, determined in accordance with
subsection (a)(1)(C).
(ii) TIME LIMIT.—Clause (i) shall not apply on and
after the date that is 60 days after the Administrator
begins awarding grants under this section and, on and
after such date, amounts available for grants under
this section may be used for grants under this section
to any eligible person or entity.
(3) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the Ad-
ministrator may make a supplemental grant in accordance
with this section to an eligible person or entity that re-
ceives a grant under paragraph (2) if, as of April 1, 2021,
the revenues of the eligible person or entity for the most
recent calendar quarter are not more than 30 percent of
the revenues of the eligible person or entity for the cor-
responding calendar quarter during 2019 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
(B) PROCESSING TIMELY INITIAL GRANT APPLICATIONS
FIRST.—The Administrator may not award a supplemental
grant under subparagraph (A) until the Administrator has
completed processing (including determining whether to
award a grant) each application for an initial grant under
paragraph (2) that is submitted by an eligible person or
entity on or before the date that is 60 days after the date
on which the Administrator begins accepting such applica-
tions.
(4) CERTIFICATION.—An eligible person or entity applying for
a grant under this section that is an eligible business described
in the matter preceding subclause (I) of section 4003(c)(3)(D)(i)
of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9042(c)(3)(D)(i)), shall make a
good-faith certification described in subclauses (IX) and (X) of
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such section.
(c) AMOUNT.—
(1) INITIAL GRANTS.—
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14
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C),
a grant under subsection (b)(2) shall be in the amount
equal to the lesser of—
(i)(I) for an eligible person or entity that was in op-
eration on January 1, 2019, the amount equal to 45
percent of the gross earned revenue of the eligible per-
son or entity during 2019; or
(II) for an eligible person or entity that began
operations after January 1, 2019, the amount
equal to the product obtained by multiplying—
(aa) the average monthly gross earned rev-
enue for each full month during which the eli-
gible person or entity was in operation during
2019; by
(bb) 6; or
(ii) $10,000,000.
(B) APPLICATION TO RELEVANT MUSEUM OPERATORS.—A
relevant museum operator may not receive grants under
subsection (b)(2) in a total amount that is more than
$10,000,000 with respect to all relevant museums operated
by the relevant museum operator.
(C) REDUCTION FOR RECIPIENTS OF NEW PPP LOANS.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—The otherwise applicable amount of
a grant under subsection (b)(2) to an eligible person or
entity shall be reduced by the total amount of loans
guaranteed under paragraph (36) or (37) of section
7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) that
are received on or after December 27, 2020 by the eli-
gible person or entity.
(ii) APPLICATION TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.—For
purposes of applying clause (i) to an eligible person or
entity owned by a State or a political subdivision of a
State, the relevant entity—
(I) shall be the eligible person or entity; and
(II) shall not include entities of the State or po-
litical subdivision other than the eligible person or
entity.
(2) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—A grant under subsection (b)(3)
shall be in the amount equal to 50 percent of the grant re-
ceived by the eligible person or entity under subsection (b)(2).
(3) OVERALL MAXIMUMS.—The total amount of grants re-
ceived under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) by an eli-
gible person or entity shall be not more than $10,000,000.
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—
(1) TIMING.—
(A) EXPENSES INCURRED.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii),
amounts received under a grant under this section
may be used for costs incurred during the period be-
ginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December
31, 2021.
(ii) EXTENSION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—If an
DMwilson on DSK7X7S144PROD with REPORTS
eligible person or entity receives a grant under sub-
section (b)(3), amounts received under either grant
under this section may be used for costs incurred dur-
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15
ing the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending
on June 30, 2022.
(B) EXPENDITURE.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii),
an eligible person or entity shall return to the Admin-
istrator any amounts received under a grant under
this section that are not expended on or before the
date that is 1 year after the date of disbursement of
the grant.
(ii) EXTENSION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—If an
eligible person or entity receives a grant under sub-
section (b)(3), the eligible person or entity shall return
to the Administrator any amounts received under ei-
ther grant under this section that are not expended on
or before the date that is 18 months after the date of
disbursement to the eligible person or entity of the
grant under subsection (b)(2).
(2) ALLOWABLE EXPENSES.—
(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph—
(i) the terms ‘‘covered mortgage obligation’’, ‘‘covered
rent obligation’’, ‘‘covered utility payment’’, and ‘‘cov-
ered worker protection expenditure’’ have the mean-
ings given those terms in section 7A(a) of the Small
Business Act, as redesignated, transferred, and
amended by this Act; and
(ii) the term ‘‘payroll costs’’ has the meaning given
that term in section 7(a)(36)(A) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A).
(B) EXPENSES.—An eligible person or entity may use
amounts received under a grant under this section for—
(i) payroll costs;
(ii) payments on any covered rent obligation;
(iii) any covered utility payment;
(iv) scheduled payments of interest or principal on
any covered mortgage obligation (which shall not in-
clude any prepayment of principal on a covered mort-
gage obligation);
(v) scheduled payments of interest or principal on
any indebtedness or debt instrument (which shall not
include any prepayment of principal) incurred in the
ordinary course of business that is a liability of the eli-
gible person or entity and was incurred prior to Feb-
ruary 15, 2020;
(vi) covered worker protection expenditures;
(vii) payments made to independent contractors, as
reported on Form-1099 MISC, not to exceed a total of
$100,000 in annual compensation for any individual
employee of an independent contractor; and
(viii) other ordinary and necessary business ex-
penses, including—
(I) maintenance expenses;
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(II) administrative costs, including fees and li-
censing costs;
(III) State and local taxes and fees;
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16
(IV) operating leases in effect as of February 15,
2020;
(V) payments required for insurance on any in-
surance policy; and
(VI) advertising, production transportation, and
capital expenditures related to producing a theat-
rical or live performing arts production, concert,
exhibition, or comedy show, except that a grant
under this section may not be used primarily for
such expenditures.
(3) PROHIBITED EXPENSES.—An eligible person or entity may
not use amounts received under a grant under this section—
(A) to purchase real estate;
(B) for payments of interest or principal on loans origi-
nated after February 15, 2020;
(C) to invest or re-lend funds;
(D) for contributions or expenditures to, or on behalf of,
any political party, party committee, or candidate for elec-
tive office; or
(E) for any other use as may be prohibited by the Ad-
ministrator.
(e) INCREASED OVERSIGHT OF SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATOR
GRANTS.—The Administrator shall increase oversight of eligible
persons and entities receiving grants under this section, which may
include the following:
(1) DOCUMENTATION.—Additional documentation require-
ments that are consistent with the eligibility and other re-
quirements under this section, including requiring an eligible
person or entity that receives a grant under this section to re-
tain records that document compliance with the requirements
for grants under this section—
(A) with respect to employment records, for the 4-year
period following receipt of the grant; and
(B) with respect to other records, for the 3-year period
following receipt of the grant.
(2) REVIEWS OF USE.—Reviews of the use of the grant pro-
ceeds by an eligible person or entity to ensure compliance with
requirements established under this section and by the Admin-
istrator, including that the Administrator may—
(A) review and audit grants under this section; and
(B) in the case of fraud or other material noncompliance
with respect to a grant under this section—
(i) require repayment of misspent funds; or
(ii) pursue legal action to collect funds.
(f) SHUTTERED VENUE OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT PLAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the
Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives an audit plan that details—
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(A) the policies and procedures of the Administrator for
conducting oversight and audits of grants under this sec-
tion; and
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17
(B) the metrics that the Administrator shall use to de-
termine which grants under this section will be audited
pursuant to subsection (e).
(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and each month thereafter until the date that
is 1 year after the date on which all amounts made available
under section 323(d)(1)(H) of this Act have been expended, the
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Busi-
ness and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee
on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on
the oversight and audit activities of the Administrator under
this subsection, which shall include—
(A) the total number of initial grants approved and dis-
bursed;
(B) the total amount of grants received by each eligible
person or entity, including any supplemental grants;
(C) the number of active investigations and audits of
grants under this section;
(D) the number of completed reviews and audits of
grants under this section, including a description of any
findings of fraud or other material noncompliance.
(E) any substantial changes made to the oversight and
audit plan submitted under paragraph (1).
(g) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for
a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1001,
1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United
States Code, or section 3729 or 3802 of title 31, United States Code,
with respect to any grant for shuttered venue operators under this
section shall be filed not later than 10 years after the date of the
violation or conspiracy.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021
* * * * * * *
TITLE V—COMMITTEE ON SMALL
BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
* * * * * * *
SEC. 5003. SUPPORT FOR RESTAURANTS.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) AFFILIATED BUSINESS.—The term ‘‘affiliated business’’
means a business in which an eligible entity has an equity or
right to profit distributions of not less than 50 percent, or in
which an eligible entity has the contractual authority to con-
trol the direction of the business, provided that such affiliation
shall be determined as of any arrangements or agreements in
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existence as of March 13, 2020.
(3) COVERED PERIOD.—The term ‘‘covered period’’ means the
period—
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18
(A) beginning on February 15, 2020; and
(B) ending on December 31, 2021, or a date to be deter-
mined by the Administrator that is not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this section.
(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’—
(A) means a restaurant, food stand, food truck, food cart,
caterer, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub, tasting
room, taproom, licensed facility or premise of a beverage
alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or
purchase products, or other similar place of business in
which the public or patrons assemble for the primary pur-
pose of being served food or drink;
(B) includes an entity described in subparagraph (A)
that is located in an airport terminal or that is a Tribally-
owned concern; and
(C) does not include—
(i) an entity described in subparagraph (A) that—
(I) is a State or local government-operated busi-
ness;
(II) as of March 13, 2020, owns or operates (to-
gether with any affiliated business) more than 20
locations, regardless of whether those locations do
business under the same or multiple names; or
(III) has a pending application for or has re-
ceived a grant under section 324 of the Economic
Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits,
and Venues Act (title III of division N of Public
Law 116-260); or
(ii) a publicly-traded company.
(5) EXCHANGE; ISSUER; SECURITY.—The terms ‘‘exchange’’,
‘‘issuer’’, and ‘‘security’’ have the meanings given those terms
in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78c(a)).
(6) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Restaurant Revital-
ization Fund established under subsection (b).
(7) PANDEMIC-RELATED REVENUE LOSS.—The term ‘‘pan-
demic-related revenue loss’’ means, with respect to an eligible
entity—
(A) except as provided in subparagraphs (B), (C), and
(D), the gross receipts, as established using such
verification documentation as the Administrator may re-
quire, of the eligible entity during 2020 subtracted from
the gross receipts of the eligible entity in 2019, if such sum
is greater than zero;
(B) if the eligible entity was not in operation for the en-
tirety of 2019—
(i) the difference between—
(I) the product obtained by multiplying the aver-
age monthly gross receipts of the eligible entity in
2019 by 12; and
(II) the product obtained by multiplying the av-
erage monthly gross receipts of the eligible entity
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in 2020 by 12; or
(ii) an amount based on a formula determined by
the Administrator;
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19
(C) if the eligible entity opened during the period begin-
ning on January 1, 2020, and ending on the day before the
date of enactment of this section—
(i) the expenses described in subsection (c)(5)(A) that
were incurred by the eligible entity minus any gross
receipts received; or
(ii) an amount based on a formula determined by
the Administrator; or
(D) if the eligible entity has not yet opened as of the
date of application for a grant under subsection (c), but
has incurred expenses described in subsection (c)(5)(A) as
of the date of enactment of this section—
(i) the amount of those expenses; or
(ii) an amount based on a formula determined by
the Administrator.For purposes of this paragraph, the
pandemic-related revenue losses for an eligible entity
shall be reduced by any amounts received from a cov-
ered loan made under paragraph (36) or (37) of section
7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) in
2020 or 2021.
(8) PAYROLL COSTS.—The term ‘‘payroll costs’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 7(a)(36)(A) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)), except that such term shall not
include—
(A) qualified wages (as defined in subsection (c)(3) of sec-
tion 2301 of the CARES Act) taken into account in deter-
mining the credit allowed under such section 2301; or
(B) premiums taken into account in determining the
credit allowed under section 6432 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
(9) PUBLICLY-TRADED COMPANY.—The term ‘‘publicly-traded
company’’ means an entity that is majority owned or controlled
by an entity that is an issuer, the securities of which are listed
on a national securities exchange under section 6 of the Securi-
ties Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f).
(10) TRIBALLY-OWNED CONCERN.—The term ‘‘Tribally-owned
concern’’ has the meaning given the term in section 124.3 of
title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regula-
tion.
(b) RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Treasury of the
United States a fund to be known as the Restaurant Revital-
ization Fund.
(2) APPROPRIATIONS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to amounts otherwise
available, there is appropriated to the Restaurant Revital-
ization Fund for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $28,600,000,000, to
remain available until expended.
(B) DISTRIBUTION.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made available
under subparagraph (A)—
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(I) $5,000,000,000 shall be available to eligible
entities with gross receipts during 2019 of not
more than $500,000; and
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20
(II) $23,600,000,000 shall be available to the
Administrator to award grants under subsection
(c) in an equitable manner to eligible entities of
different sizes based on annual gross receipts.
(ii) ADJUSTMENTS.—The Administrator may make
adjustments as necessary to the distribution of funds
under clause (i)(II) based on demand and the relative
local costs in the markets in which eligible entities op-
erate.
(C) GRANTS AFTER INITIAL PERIOD.—Notwithstanding
subparagraph (B), on and after the date that is 60 days
after the date of enactment of this section, or another pe-
riod of time determined by the Administrator, the Admin-
istrator may make grants using amounts appropriated
under subparagraph (A) to any eligible entity regardless of
the annual gross receipts of the eligible entity.
(3) USE OF FUNDS.—The Administrator shall use amounts in
the Fund to make grants described in subsection (c).
(c) RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION GRANTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b) and
paragraph (3), the Administrator shall award grants to eligible
entities in the order in which applications are received by the
Administrator.
(2) APPLICATION.—
(A) CERTIFICATION.—An eligible entity applying for a
grant under this subsection shall make a good faith certifi-
cation that—
(i) the uncertainty of current economic conditions
makes necessary the grant request to support the on-
going operations of the eligible entity; and
(ii) the eligible entity has not applied for or received
a grant under section 324 of the Economic Aid to
Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues
Act (title III of division N of Public Law 116-260).
(B) BUSINESS IDENTIFIERS.—In accepting applications for
grants under this subsection, the Administrator shall
prioritize the ability of each applicant to use their existing
business identifiers over requiring other forms of registra-
tion or identification that may not be common to their in-
dustry and imposing additional burdens on applicants.
(3) PRIORITY IN AWARDING GRANTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—During the initial 21-day period in
which the Administrator awards grants under this sub-
section, the Administrator shall prioritize awarding grants
to eligible entities that are small business concerns owned
and controlled by women (as defined in section 3(n) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(n))), small business con-
cerns owned and controlled by veterans (as defined in sec-
tion 3(q) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q))), or socially and
economically disadvantaged small business concerns (as
defined in section 8(a)(4)(A) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 637(a)(4)(A))). The Administrator may take such
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steps as necessary to ensure that eligible entities described
in this subparagraph have access to grant funding under
this section after the end of such 21-day period.
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21
(B) CERTIFICATION.—For purposes of establishing pri-
ority under subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit a
self-certification of eligibility for priority with the grant ap-
plication.
(4) GRANT AMOUNT.—
(A) AGGREGATE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The aggregate
amount of grants made to an eligible entity and any affili-
ated businesses of the eligible entity under this sub-
section—
(i) shall not exceed $10,000,000; and
(ii) shall be limited to $5,000,000 per physical loca-
tion of the eligible entity.
(B) DETERMINATION OF GRANT AMOUNT.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this para-
graph, the amount of a grant made to an eligible enti-
ty under this subsection shall be equal to the pan-
demic-related revenue loss of the eligible entity.
(ii) RETURN TO TREASURY.—Any amount of a grant
made under this subsection to an eligible entity based
on estimated receipts that is greater than the actual
gross receipts of the eligible entity in 2020 shall be re-
turned to the Treasury.
(5) USE OF FUNDS.—During the covered period, an eligible
entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use the
grant funds for the following expenses incurred as a direct re-
sult of, or during, the COVID-19 pandemic:
(A) Payroll costs.
(B) Payments of principal or interest on any mortgage
obligation (which shall not include any prepayment of
principal on a mortgage obligation).
(C) Rent payments, including rent under a lease agree-
ment (which shall not include any prepayment of rent).
(D) Utilities.
(E) Maintenance expenses, including—
(i) construction to accommodate outdoor seating; and
(ii) walls, floors, deck surfaces, furniture, fixtures,
and equipment.
(F) Supplies, including protective equipment and clean-
ing materials.
(G) Food and beverage expenses that are within the
scope of the normal business practice of the eligible entity
before the covered period.
(H) Covered supplier costs, as defined in section 7A(a) of
the Small Business Act (as redesignated, transferred, and
amended by section 304(b) of the Economic Aid to Hard-
Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (Public
Law 116-260)).
(I) Operational expenses.
(J) Paid sick leave.
(K) Any other expenses that the Administrator deter-
mines to be essential to maintaining the eligible entity.
(6) RETURNING FUNDS.—If an eligible entity that receives a
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grant under this subsection fails to use all grant funds or per-
manently ceases operations on or before the last day of the cov-
ered period, the eligible entity shall return to the Treasury any
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22
funds that the eligible entity did not use for the allowable ex-
penses under paragraph (5).
(d) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, any criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action for
a violation of, or conspiracy to violate, section 371, 641, 1001,
1028A, 1029, 1341, 1343, 1349, 1956, or 1957 of title 18, United
States Code, or section 3729 or 3802 of title 31, United States Code,
with respect to any restaurant revitalization grant under this sec-
tion shall be filed not later than 10 years after the date of the viola-
tion or conspiracy.
* * * * * * *
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XVIII. MINORITY VIEWS
More than 30 million small businesses were adversely impacted
by the COVID–19 pandemic, and an unprecedented amount of
money flowed to small businesses in the form of grants and loans
to help them stay afloat. Over the course of 18 months, the Small
Business Administration (SBA) administered four major programs
and delivered 22.1 million loans and grants totaling $1.2 trillion.1
The four main programs and their disbursements are: Paycheck
Protection Program, (PPP) ($792 billion), Economic Injury Disaster
Loan (EIDL) Program ($405.2 billion), the Restaurant Revitaliza-
tion Fund (RRF) ($28.6 billion), and the Shuttered Venue Opera-
tors Grant (SVOG) ($14.6 million).2 In an effort to deliver aid to
small businesses quickly, the Trump Administration reduced or
eliminated many existing internal controls.3
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a number of re-
ports early on, warning of the importance of strong internal con-
trols to mitigate risk, and a total of 22 reports to identify weak-
nesses in SBA’s control environment throughout the pandemic.4
Beginning in early 2021, long-standing anti-fraud controls were re-
instituted, and new safeguards were put into place by the previous
administration to reduce the potential for fraud.5 On June 27,
2023, the OIG issued a white paper to provide a comprehensive re-
view reporting that SBA disbursed more than $200 billion in poten-
tially fraudulent COVID–19 EIDLs, EIDL Targeted Advances, Sup-
plemental Targeted Advances, and PPP loans.6 Of this amount,
OIG estimates SBA disbursed $136 billion in potentially fraudulent
COVID–19 EIDLs and $64 billion in potentially fraudulent PPP
funds.7
SBA also issued a report, entitled ‘‘Protecting the Integrity of the
Pandemic Relief Programs,’’ which estimates that $36 billion of the
$1.2 trillion in pandemic relief emergency funds were obtained
fraudulently.8 Moreover, the SBA, under the previous administra-
tion, asserted that 86 percent of the likely fraud originated in the
first nine months of the pandemic,9 under the first Trump Admin-
istration. Under the leadership of then Committee Chairwoman
Velázquez, Congress passed two bills to extend the statute of limi-
1 OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., TOP PERFORMANCE AND MANAGEMENT
CHALLENGES FACING THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, (Oct. 15,
2024).
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., COVID–19 PANDEMIC EIDL AND PPP
LOAN FRAUD LANDSCAPE (Jun. 27, 2023).
5 U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PANDEMIC RELIEF EMERGENCY
PROGRAMS: SBA’S ACTIONS TO PREVENT, DETECT, AND ADDRESS FRAUD (Jun. 27, 2023).
6 OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., COVID–19 PANDEMIC EIDL AND PPP
LOAN FRAUD LANDSCAPE (Jun. 27, 2023).
7 Supra note 5.
8 Id.
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9 Id.
(23)
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tations for fraud in the PPP 10 and EIDL 11 programs from 5 to 10
years. Democrats on the Committee have supported full funding for
the OIG to ensure the Office has the resources it needs to fully in-
vestigate the pandemic fraud.
The legislation under consideration today would extend the stat-
ute of limitations on the RRF and SVOG programs. The American
Rescue Plan established the RRF to provide grants up to $10 mil-
lion per business and no more than $5 million per physical location
to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors
open during the pandemic.12 The Economic Aid Act created the
SVOG to provide grants to eligible performing arts businesses dur-
ing the pandemic. As of June 2025, the OIG has 31 open investiga-
tions related to potential fraud in these programs, with 25 open
RRF cases and 6 open SVOG cases. To date, the OIG’s efforts have
resulted in charges against 25 individuals (21 RRF, 4 SVOG), 14
criminal convictions, and more than $61 million in recoveries. The
OIG has received more than 1,000 complaints related to these pro-
grams. According to the OIG, while the number of investigations
appears modest, each case is complex, involving layered trans-
actions, false documentation, and financial concealment, and may
involve multiple grants. Therefore, the impact per case would re-
main high.13
It is important to note, that SBA requires proper funding and
staffing. Recent investigative news reports found that some of the
spending by celebrities who received SVOGs could be question-
able.14 As of December 19, 2024, there were 1,892 active SVOG
awards, totaling approximately $3.2 billion.15 SBA had 109 employ-
ees reviewing these awards, however, the number was expected to
drop to 28 employees after January 31 due to lack of funding.16
The Independent Auditor’s report made recommendations, how-
ever, without sufficient funds specifically dedicated to the oversight
of the SVOG grants, as well as other pandemic programs, SBA may
not be able to fully recover monies related to ineligible expenses.
On March 21, 2025, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced
an agency wide reorganization, which among other things, includes
a 43 percent workforce reduction to ‘‘reverse the broad and costly
expansion of the SBA under the Biden administration.’’ 17 Signifi-
10 PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117–166, 136
Stat. 1365 (2022) (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 636(a) (2022)).
11 COVID–19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117–165, 136 Stat.
1363 (2022) (codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 636(b), 9009 (2022)).
12 Restaurant Revitalization Fund, U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN. (Oct. 3, 2024), https://
www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-
fund#program-details (last visited Jul. 15, 2025).
13 Email from the OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN. TO THE H. COMM. ON
SMALL BUS. DEMOCRATS (Jul. 14, 2025) (on file with the H. COMM. ON SMALL BUS.).
14 Jack Newsham & Katherine Long, How rich musicians billed American taxpayers for luxury
hotels, shopping sprees, and million-dollar bonuses, BUS. INSIDER (Dec. 18, 2024), https://
www.businessinsider.com/lil-wayne-chris-brown-covid-relief-funds-svog-grant-2024-12.
15 Email from the OFF. OF INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN. TO THE H. COMM. ON
SMALL BUS. DEMOCRATS (Dec. 19, 2024) (on file with the H. COMM. ON SMALL BUS.).
16 Briefing with U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN. (Washington, DC).
17 Press Release, U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., Small Business Administration Announces Agency-
DMwilson on DSK7X7S144PROD with REPORTS
Wide Reorganization (Mar. 21, 2025), https://www.sba.gov/article/2025/03/21/small-business-
administration-announces-agency-wide-reorganization.
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cant reduction in staff will impede SBA’s ability to recover im-
proper and fraudulent payments.
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ,
Ranking Member.
Æ
DMwilson on DSK7X7S144PROD with REPORTS
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