Federal agencies implement and enforce laws passed by Congress and the president, but all too often, the regulations they set forth are complex, confusing, and can have unintended consequences. In every administration, the Association works with federal executive agencies to ensure restaurants share unique stakeholder perspective with regulators and ultimately prevent overly cumbersome and unfair regulations from taking effect. Take a look to see how the Association interacts with regulators.
The Association submitted comments to USDA in response to the agency's notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require the addition of labor law violations in contracts through the agency's Office of Procurement and Property Management.
The Association expresses concern that failed or stalled negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union would lead to additional supply chain disruptions.
Delays in processing ERTC refunds are triggering tax liabilities, and the Association requests that the IRS halt automated collections, delay the collection process, streamline the reasonable cause penalty abatement process, and communicate the status of amended returns and ERTC refunds.
The National Marine Fisheries Service’s plan to implement Amendment 53 would not only modify the Gulf red grouper catch (as well as annual catch limits and targets) but subsequently create significant harm to the entire seafood supply chain, including restaurants, and is inconsistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Fishery Conservation and Management Act (“MSA”).
The termination of ERTC after September 30, 2021, deals a retroactive, sudden blow to restaurants currently utilizing the program during this calendar quarter. As restaurants enter a second winter with COVID-19, small businesses will now face a potential claw back of federal taxation and a compliance nightmare.
OSHA has only provided the public with 30 days to submit input. This is an extensive rulemaking and the Association and its membership needs additional time to review and provide the agency with comprehensive comments. The additional time will allow the Association to work with our full membership to address the magnitude of issues covered in the ETS, including areas of concern.
The Association proposed several solutions to resolve supply chain delays and improve economic conditions for restaurants.
The Association shared the restaurant and foodservice industry’s perspective on the COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate under review.
Along with other hospitality organizations, the Association urged swift adoption of proposed improvements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, including raising the cap to $2 million per loan, and waiving affiliation rules to permit multi-unit small business owners to fully access the program.
The Association submitted comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing.
The Association sent a letter to the Small Business Administration and Congressional leaders on behalf of the 2,965 restaurants owners who had their Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants rescinded to comply with a federal court ruling.