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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 4495

Bill extends fraud enforcement to 10 years for pandemic restaurant and venue grants

SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act

4 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The government gets up to 10 years to charge or sue people who cheated pandemic grants for restaurants and live venues.
  • It only applies to restaurant and venue grants, not other pandemic aid programs.
  • The aim is to recover stolen money and discourage fraud, which could help taxpayers and honest businesses.
  • Businesses that followed the rules are not the target, but keeping records is smart in case questions come up.
  • More time to act means investigators can build stronger cases, even if scammers tried to hide money or wait it out.
Small BusinessCriminal JusticeConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(1)
Criminal Record
Hurts
Mixed Impacts(2)
Small Business Owner
Neutral
Federal Employee
Neutral

Milestones

4 milestones13 actions
Dec 2, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 281.

Dec 1, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Dec 1, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4914-4916)

Dec 1, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4914-4916)

Dec 1, 2025House

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4495.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law

The time limit to file fraud cases tied to Shuttered Venue Operators grants becomes 10 years after the alleged violation or conspiracy.

Businesses and individuals connected to these grants may face audits, lawsuits, or prosecutions for longer than they would have otherwise, so keeping records longer becomes more important.

After the bill becomes law

The time limit to file fraud cases tied to Restaurant Revitalization grants becomes 10 years after the alleged violation or conspiracy.

Restaurants that received these grants could be asked years later to prove eligibility and proper use of funds; bad actors face a longer period of legal risk.

Over the next several years

Investigators continue opening and pursuing older cases that previously might have timed out sooner.

Some people may receive document requests or interviews years after the grant period, especially in more complex fraud schemes.

1 Article

news_articleCenter

Pandemic watchdog calls the number of investigations into arts and restaurant bailouts 'underwhelming' and 'embarrassing'

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act

Bill NumberHR 4495
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 281.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 2

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.