Congress has the power of the purse to advance policies that could benefit or harm restaurants. The Association provides Congress with unparalleled industry perspective and insight into economic trends and business conditions to support or raise concerns about proposals that would affect the livelihood of restaurants and their employees. Take a look to see how the Association engages with Congress.
Congress should still tackle critical tax and technology policies in Lame Duck session | November 29, 2022
The Association sought Congress’s help during the Lame Duck session to reduce swipe fees, permanently restore depreciation and amortization, and expedite the processing of Employee Retention Tax Credits.
Association urges congressional leaders to intervene, prevent railway strike | November 28, 2022
In a coalition letter with the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Association joined hundreds of other trade and advocacy organizations urging Congress to take steps to avert a massive supply chain and economic disruption should a railway labor agreement not be reached in the coming days.
Association urges congressional leaders to intervene, prevent railway strike | November 28, 2022
In a coalition letter with the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Association joined hundreds of other trade and advocacy organizations urging Congress to take steps to avert a massive supply chain and economic disruption should a railway labor agreement not be reached in the coming days.
Letter to House Education and Labor Committee on workforce participation, apprenticeships | September 14, 2022
In conjunction with a House Education and Labor Committee hearing that examines barriers to organized labor, the Association encouraged the Committee to continue to focus on boosting workforce participation and expand skill building programs like registered apprenticeships.
Coalition letter supporting legislation that promotes recycling practices | July 21, 2022
As part of the Recycling Infrastructure Now coalition, the Association sent a letter to leaders of the House Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change expressing support for recycling initiatives.
Letter to Congress on alarming provisions in the American Data Privacy and Protection Act | July 19, 2022
Concerned with alarming language in the federal comprehensive data privacy legislation that would essentially nullify preemption and create a litigious "trolling" environment, the Association provided insight to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Letter Urging Congressional Leaders to Oppose Tax Increases | July 11, 2022
In collaboration with other Main Street businesses, the Association pressed House and Senate leaders to oppose small business tax hikes.
Letter to Congress Expressing Concerns with the federal data privacy legislation | June 14, 2022
While the Association appreciates that federal comprehensive data privacy and protection legislation would preempt similar state laws, several provisions in the draft bill would have devastating implications on restaurants, especially independent and small business ones.
Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee on Excessive Swipe Fees | May 4, 2022
The Association submitted a letter-for-the-record to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary about costly debit and credit card swipe fees and anti-competitive electronic transaction routing practices.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Competition Bills in Conference | May 2, 2022
As House- and Senate-passed legislation promoting American innovation and competition is negotiated in conference committee, the Association urges congressional leaders to adopt Senate language in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA).
Letter to Senator Scott Supporting the Employee Rights Act | March 21, 2022
The Association joined more than 25 other organizations in expressing support for the Employee Rights Act - legislation that would modernize outdated federal labor and employment law.
Coalition Letter to Congressional Leaders on ERTC Reinstatement | Feb. 28, 2022
Joining more than 40 other small businesses and nonprofit organizations, the Association urged congressional leaders to pass the ERTC Reinstatement Act either through stand-alone legislation or in the upcoming spending package.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on the ERTC Reinstatement Act | February 10, 2022
The Association urges Congress to quickly pass bipartisan legislation to restore the popular pandemic relief program.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Omicron Survey Results | January 24, 2022
Armed with new research on deteriorating business conditions resulting from the Omicron variant, the Association implored Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
Letter to Chair on Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act | October 8, 2021
In attempting to respond to the challenge of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (“IUU”) fishing, the bill imposes unworkable regulatory mandates on industry, raises the costs and risks for American fishermen to sell their catch in the United States, and exposes U.S. exporters to retaliation in overseas markets, all without addressing the existing program’s lack of demonstrated success in deterring illegally harvested products from reaching U.S. ports.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Plastic Tax | September 30, 2021
The bill only increases costs for manufacturers to use virgin plastic and does nothing to help fund or improve the infrastructure and technology necessary for food-grade post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins to become more widely available and may even divert private investment currently aimed at improving infrastructure and technology to pay the tax.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on BBBA | September 29, 2021
The Association sent a “do no harm” letter to congressional leaders, expressing opposition to a number of tax increases being considered in the Build Back Better Act and urging Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and resist making drastic fundamental changes to the National Labor Relations Act.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Delta Variant Customer Survey | August 24, 2021
The Association shared research on the state of the restaurant industry in light of the rise in delta variant cases and their impact on consumer behavior while urging Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
Letter to Congressional Leaders Seeking Prompt Passage of RRF | March, 2, 2021
Following the success of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), the Association shared new research chronicling the devastation specific to restaurants and urged Congress to pass the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Raise the Wage Act | February 16, 2021
The Association sent a letter to Congressional leaders voicing strong concerns with including the Raise the Wage Act in the pending stimulus bill.
Letter to Congress on Fifth National Survey | December 7, 2020
The Association shared with Congressional leaders research on the economic state of the restaurant industry and urged Congress to come to an agreement on a coronavirus relied package.
Federal Blueprint for Restaurant Revival | July 15, 2020
The Association releases its federal plan for short-term restaurant survival and long-term industry recovery.
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Blueprint for Restaurant Revival | July 15, 2020
The Association sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to take action on the Association’s Blueprint for Restaurant Revival.
Phase 4 Letter to House-Senate Leaders | April 20, 2020
The Association sent a letter to House and Senate Leaders encouraging them to take action on Phase 4 COVID-19 relief.
Letter to House and Senate Leaders | April 9, 2020
The Association sent a letter to Congressional leaders outlining steps that were needed to improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
COVID Response Letter | March 18, 2020
The Association sent a letter to Congressional leaders outlining steps they could take to assist the restaurant industry during COVID-19.