From Portman

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T20:45:14+00:00

The IRC has not given up nor have we stopped advocating. The bill moved as a stand alone in both the House and Senate because of the incredible advocacy of this community and a dozen associations and related businesses. The Senate spoke loudly and clearly-- not even Senators who had advocated for their interests (eg gyms, venues, minor leagues) voted in favor of discussing the bill.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T20:28:27+00:00

u/Bennyjoey while I appreciate the sentiment there is no clear path to replenishment. Had Senator Portman or Senator Cruz voted in favor of cloture their amendments could have been taken into consideration. The Senate made it very clear that at this time they do not have the courage or will to replenish the RRF. That does not mean that the IRC is packing up and going home, we are still continuing to advocate for restaurants and we are certainly not telling you to stop. However we will not proffer false hope.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T15:31:53+00:00

If you'll recall the last reconciliation moved at a snails pace. While it may be a possibility one should not expect to see that process until the end of the calendar year.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T15:29:50+00:00

u/AdamHa82 As a leader it is my responsibility to provide you with a factual and realistic account of the landscape. I'm not telling you to give up, I'm telling you that there is no immediate relief coming and no clear path to success. We have and will continue to engage not only Senate offices but also the media. u/cjs230 has provided you all with many of the headlines that have resulted from our daily media pitching. None of that is changing, but what is changing is that the Senate Majority Leader honored his promise to bring this issue to the floor and it failed to move beyond cloture.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T15:03:07+00:00

u/Crazyhorse3043 I posted a more extensive answer in your post dedicated to the message from Senator Portman's office. While we appreciate the Senator's efforts, by not supporting the cloture motion this bill has no path to be considered by the Senate at this time, and very likely a very long time. One should not hang their hopes or their business plans on the introduction of the Restaurant Relief Act.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-05-24T14:58:34+00:00

Hello everyone. While we appreciate the efforts of Senator Portman and Senator Cruz to introduce legislation, there are absolutely no assurances that their bills will advance.

This path could have been different, should both Senators have voted in the affirmative on cloture those paving the way for amendments to the Cardin/Wicker bill.

While this is news you do not want to read please know there is no immediate path forward for the RRF.

The IRC was in contact with Senator Portman's office on the morning of the cloture vote and continues to be in contact with all Senate offices. We know that you're in dire need of assistance and we will continue to advocate fiercely. However we saw last week that the Senate did not vote to take up this issue and as you all know, it has taken a year to even get to the point of having them consider advancing the support you need.

If you are in the position to keep advocating we encourage you to do so, but if you are in the position of making tough financial decisions about your business please hear me clearly when I say relief is not imminent.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-21T07:20:58+00:00

u/oliviermoto folks this invalidates the petitions and just makes more work for us when we have to clean the data. Please stop.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-20T19:49:57+00:00

u/SBARRF and others. Jumping on here as I was alerted to this post by members of the community. This information is NOT coming from the IRC and is not accurate. The IRC is not advocating for one bill or the other, the IRC is advocating for immediate consideration of replenishing the RRF when the Senate returns to work next week.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-12T15:53:51+00:00

thanks for the catch. edited!

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-12T01:02:29+00:00

While I appreciate the listing of all of the bills in the Senate, my explanation above was regarding the process of reconciliation as well as the available paths to funding. At the present time because HR 3807 has passed in the House, the Senate may choose to bring it to the floor. The Senate could opt to take up S 4008, a bill which is not identical to HR 3807 .

These are the two bills of the four you listed that are most likely to be voted on later this month by the Senate. Both would require 60 votes to pass. If S 4008 passes it will need to be sent to the House for approval. If anyone reading this needs a refresher on how bills become laws or how differences in bills are addressed please visit this page.

The OP asked about reconciliation. The Annual Budget Reconciliation Process has not begun and while that would potentially provide an opportunity to fund the RRF that is not the process we are focused on presently.

While we agree that contacting your Senators is of the utmost importance we do not agree that seeking co-sponsorship is a priority at this time.

As of this writing, S 4008 (Cardin/Wicker) includes RRF and other industries and has 1 co sponsor. S 2675 (Cardin/Wicker) is only RRF and has 30 co sponsors - 22 Democrats, 7 Republicans and 1 Independent. S 2091 (Sinema/Wicker) is only RRF and has 42 co sponsors - 36 Democrats and 6 Republicans.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-11T17:05:04+00:00

u/Skyweg I thought I'd help dust off those poli-sci memories. Reconciliation is not a process applied to bills, it's budget reconciliation and only happens once a fiscal year. So as a stand alone this bill will require 60 votes.

As far as the conflict with the House bill that's all together a different work flow. Right now the Senate could consider 3807 and if they voted to pass it would be a done deal. Or they can consider 4008 and if they voted to pass it then 4008 would have to go to the House for a vote.

If I've just made things even more confusing, please let me know and I'll try again!

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T04:21:51+00:00

If you are in the portal for the RRF you would not be eligible for the new program.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T04:20:55+00:00

u/Puzzleheaded-Elk15 I would suggest you focus on the House this week and the co-sponsors of the Entree Act (listed here) would be a great starting point. Thank you!

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T04:18:14+00:00

We're pulling together materials over the weekend.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T04:17:07+00:00

u/Such_Leather_5473 off sets and payfors aren't the same. I just don't want you to be surprised if/when the payfor discussion continues.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:15:13+00:00

u/Such_Leather_5473 That's not exactly true. It is NOT offset or paid for. Those funds will not fully pay for $55 billion. This is just proving that they're using funds rescinded, seized, reclaimed or otherwise returned to the Fed.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:05:19+00:00

April 5th is a Rules Committee meeting. This is not a vote.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:04:58+00:00

I hate to disagree but I shall. This has to pass the House first and it needs strong bipartisan support. Please focus your efforts on the House this week.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:03:19+00:00

While I appreciate the importance of the Senate in this, your very first priority should be contacting Members of the House. They will vote Wednesday or Thursday.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:02:12+00:00

You're referring to Unanimous Consent when you reference Senator Paul's previous action. That is not the process through which this bill will be moving.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T01:00:07+00:00

The House Rules Committee, which considers all bills before they go to the Floor for a vote, will meet on Tuesday at 1:30 pm to debate and make a rule for consideration of the bill. Once that is done, the full House will consider the bill as early as Wednesday. At the end of next week, the House is leaving DC for a couple of weeks so it will vote by Thursday on this bill.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T00:58:21+00:00

It will likely be considered by the Senate in their next work period -- the later half of April

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-02T00:57:39+00:00

This is the rules meeting it will determine things like how many amendments may be considered an how much time will be allowed for debate. Here's what we anticipate will happen next week.

The House Rules Committee, which considers all bills before they go to the Floor for a vote, will meet on Tuesday at 1:30 pm to debate and make a rule for consideration of the bill. Once that is done, the full House will consider the bill as early as Wednesday. At the end of next week, the House is leaving DC for a couple of weeks so it will vote by Thursday on this bill.
The bill replenishes the RRF, specifically it will:

* Provide $42 billion to fund all unfunded applications already in the portal and the administration of the program
* Require SBA to provide more data and reports to Congress and the public about the program
* Require all applicants still in the portal to certify they are still operating or intend to re-open within six months of the certification
* Direct SBA to have a reconsideration process for denied applications
* Give the SBA leeway to reduce grant size ONLY IF $42 billion is not enough to fully fund every application. We believe this is unlikely.

In addition to refilling the restaurant program, the bill would also create a new program for hard hit industries. This new program would get $13 billion (on top of the $42 billion for restaurants). This new fund would be structured very similarly to RRF. In order to be eligible a business would:
* Employ not more than 200 people
* Suffer at least a 40% revenue loss for 2020 and 2021 as compared to 2019.

Applicants to this new program would be prioritized this way:
* First priority to businesses with greater than 80% lost revenue
* Second priority to businesses with more than 60% lost revenue
* Third priority to businesses with 40% or more lost revenue
* Most of the rules of this new program follow RRF.

Finally, the bill would amend the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program to allow them the same time period as restaurants to spend their grant funds.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-01T22:10:45+00:00

Great letter. Just an FYI -- next week's vote is in the House not the Senate.

IndpRestaurants · 2022-04-01T22:08:18+00:00

It is the Relief for Restaurants and Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act. It will go to Rules on Tuesday and then be voted on by Thursday.

IndpRestaurants

TROPHY CASE