“We were disappointed by the U.S. Senate’s decision last week not to advance debate on the ‘Small Business COVID Relief Act of 2022’ to provide additional funding to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
Senate Pledges Vote to Replenish RRF
From Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs of the National Restaurant Association:
“Big news from Washington – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged that the Senate next week will vote to begin debate on a $48 billion bill that would fully fund the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
As you know, we just hosted over 600 operators here in DC, bringing them face-to-face with Capitol Hill lawmakers. We have taken Leader Schumer’s announcement, spoken with key Democrats and Republicans, and the substance of the state-of-play is in my latest Washington Update.
We have resisted saying “this is the week” to you for almost a year now, but it is truly accurate this time. Everyone in Washington knows the need for replenishing RRF, but they need to hear your urgency to make it a priority.
If you have engaged your Senators, thank you – and please consider contacting them again.
More to come from us and our state restaurant association partners next week. Thank you for everything you’re doing.”
TELL YOUR SENATORS TO REPLENISH THE RRF
URGENT: Tell Members of Congress to Vote for More RRF!
From Sean Kennedy, National Restaurant Association:
The House is expected to vote on legislation to add $42 billion to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). This vote could not come at a more critical time for the 177,000 restaurants still awaiting a relief grant from the SBA.
The Senate appears likely to vote on a plan to partially or fully replenish the RRF, offering it as an amendment to a $10 billion COVID Preparedness bill. The vote could occur in the next few days, but more likely will be after the Senate’s upcoming two-week recess period.
I wrote to Capitol Hill leaders yesterday with a simple message:
“With the looming threat of another variant and growing challenges of inflation for both operators and consumers, the economic boost RRF will provide for those 177,000 restaurants would reach far into our communities. This should be the driving factor in bipartisan support for replenishing the RRF. These restaurants fighting for survival cannot go it alone any longer, and should not be treated as a spot in the rear-view mirror of Congress.
This will likely be the last vote Congress takes on RRF replenishment, and we owe it to those 177,000 operators to give it everything we’ve got. We are starting a new grassroots activation campaign to generate strong bipartisan support for the RRF. Will you join us?
Please take a moment to share your story with Congress by clicking on this link.
Win or lose, we cannot let this opportunity pass us by. Thank you for your continued engagement.
Sean Kennedy
Executive Vice President of Public Affairs
National Restaurant Association
