Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the state House would provide financial assistance to bars, restaurants, and catering halls that are struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Bill 2791 is part of a House Democratic legislative package announced last month providing financial relief to small-business owners, cooks, and servers.
The bill focuses on smaller, community businesses rather than chains and national conglomerates. It would utilize federal CARES Act funding and place a cap on assistance.
State Reps. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery) and Tina Davis (D-Bucks) introduced the bill.
“These establishments – particularly the smaller, ‘mom and pop’ businesses – are the lifeblood of a community and often become landmarks where we live, work, and raise our families,” Ciresi said. “Because of the pandemic, so many of these bars, restaurants, and catering halls are struggling to stay afloat, hurt by the inability to operate at full capacity. That’s why Rep. Davis and I have introduced this bill, to help as many local businesses as possible to get the funding they need and deserve.”
“This bill would help our local restaurants – and the people who work in them – survive this unprecedented crisis but would benefit the larger community as well,” Davis said.
The bill was assigned to the House Commerce Committee.