Hagedorn Questions SBA Administrator Guzman on Restaurant Revitalization Fund Portal Closure

Press Release

WASHINGTON -- Today, Congressman Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) participated in the House Committee on Small Business' hearing examining the SBA's COVID-19 programs with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Isabella Casillas Guzman.

Congressman Hagedorn questioned Guzman during the hearing on the preemptive closure of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Portal, specifically on how the Biden Administration is discriminating against restaurant owners who do not fit the description of "priority." Further, he raised questions as to why the SBA has given preference to owners with an undocumented or unknown immigration status.

"The Biden Administration's actions on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund are biased and discriminatory. It's bad enough when the Federal government picks winners and losers, but to do so based upon race and identity is immoral. Moreover, allocating this funding to illegal aliens before law-abiding American citizens is unfathomable. In fact, SBA should ensure that illegal aliens are blocked from receiving any federal funding.

"Every small business owner should be treated equally and have the same opportunity, but right now more than 100,000 restaurant and bar owners who happen to be white and male are being denied access to funding and treated unfairly. We must reject these sort of race-based preferences and identity politics and embrace fairness when it comes to all aspects of society, especially government initiatives designed to support small businesses."

Last week, Congressman Hagedorn led his Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Guzman addressing the portal closure and asking the Administrator to provide an explanation for SBA's priority list.

Jim Hagedorn was reelected in 2020 to serve Minnesota's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives for a second term. He grew up on his family's grain and livestock farm near Truman. Jim's father, former Congressman Tom Hagedorn (MN-02), grandfather, and great-grandfather were all southern Minnesota farmers, and Jim resides in the rural community of Blue Earth. During his time in Congress, Hagedorn has consistently fought for the conservative principles that have made America the greatest nation in the history of the world and championed legislation to promote the First District's primary industries and job creators -- farming, small business and medical care. Hagedorn is a member of the House Committees on Agriculture and Small Business.

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