[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Restaurant Revitalization Fund

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I met with restaurant owners from all 
over my State last month--from Seattle to Yakima, to Spokane--and we 
talked about the American Rescue Plan and how important that was and 
how that bill made recovery possible for so many restaurants in our 
State--but not for everyone, and that is why I am on the Senate floor 
today.
  The American Rescue Plan was absolutely a lifeline. It designated 
more than $28 billion to establish a Restaurant Revitalization Fund 
that gave restaurant owners the financial support they needed to keep 
their doors open, to rehire workers, and to deal with the continued 
effects of COVID-19.
  More than 3,500 Washington State businesses have received over $9 
billion in Federal loans and grants and debt relief since the start of 
the pandemic. That is not even considering the flexible dollars that we 
provided local governments to help local small businesses. Now, that 
really made a difference and helped a lot of folks keep their doors 
open and their employees on the payroll, but for many restaurant 
owners, the funds were gone before they were able to get the same 
relief their neighbors got.
  I don't think it is right that a business on one side of the street 
in Seattle got Federal dollars from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund 
but another mom-and-pop shop just next-door and just as qualified--that 
also got approved--didn't get the money because the funds ran dry.
  Now, I know this is true for communities in red States and in blue 
States--that our restaurants are often the heart of a community. They 
serve their local favorites that remind us of home. They sponsor our 
sports teams and community causes. They allow us to get together and 
share a meal and celebrate with family and friends and make memories. 
Making these businesses whole is critical for our economy, but it is 
essential to preserving what makes Seattle ``Seattle'' or Spokane 
``Spokane.''
  I know many of my Republican colleagues feel the same way. So I want 
us to look at every possible option to replenish the Restaurant 
Revitalization Fund and get help to every restaurant that applied and 
got approved but didn't get the same help as everyone else.
  We have got good bipartisan bills to get this done. Our legislation 
would help hard-to-reach businesses and communities apply for the 
assistance because I really want to make sure we are helping actual 
small businesses, not giant corporations that don't need it.
  Any Senator who has spoken to local restaurant owners knows they are 
dealing, still, with really tough challenges right now: increased costs 
from inflation and shortages of everything from straws to chicken 
wings, and it is not easy to find wait staff and cooks and a lot more. 
That is why it is so urgent that we get a bipartisan small business 
relief package--that makes our restaurants whole--over the finish line 
as soon as possible. So let's do whatever we need to do to get this 
done and keep our restaurants open.