Ciresi Applauds Bill That Provides COVID-19 Relief

Blogger's Note: The following is a press release issued by the office of State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist.

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-M146th Dist., applauded the passage of S.B. 109 in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate, with Gov. Tom Wolf expected to sign it into law very soon. This legislation will direct $912 million in COVID-19 relief to restaurants, schools, employers, tenants and landlords, including $570 million for rent and utility assistance.

Ciresi said he is especially pleased with the funding to help restaurants, hotels and theaters – and the people who work there – as he’s been consistently working to allocate additional funding to these struggling industries. The legislation establishes a $145 million Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to support hotels, restaurants, bars and taverns that suffered a decline in revenue in 2020.

“This funding will provide real help for real people who desperately need it due to the effects of this ongoing global pandemic,” Ciresi said. 

“As I’ve said repeatedly throughout this crisis, restaurants and local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and it’s incumbent upon us as legislators to help ensure their survival through this incredibly difficult period" he said. "I was also pleased to see the state take action on exempting business PPP loans from income taxes, and I continue to urge Congress to waive COVID-19 relief grants from federal taxes.”

Since December, Ciresi has proposed several pieces of legislation aimed at providing crucial help to local restaurants and small businesses, including:

• COVID-19 Local Restaurant Grants
• COVID-19 Grant Program for Ultra-Small Businesses
• Waiving 2021 Restaurant License Renewal Fees
• Urge Congress to Exempt CARES Act Small Business Relief from Taxation
• COVID-19 Banking on Pennsylvania Small Businesses Act and Banking on Pennsylvania Non-Profits Act

Senate Bill 109 incorporates many of these same policies and directives Ciresi has been pushing.

“Again, I am grateful for today’s unanimous passage of Senate Bill 109, because it would do a lot of good for restaurants, local businesses, career and technical schools, community colleges, and more,” Ciresi said. “But it is by no means the solution to all our problems, and I will continue to advocate for and work with colleagues on bipartisan legislation that assists those people and businesses that need help now.”