Everything You Need to Know About the Restaurants Act
by Sophie Braker
Over the last month, Best Served Podcast’s channel Together has focused on the Restaurants Act and the IRC. Jensen spoke with Andrew Zimmern, Nina Compton, Shanita Bryant, Bobby Stuckey, and Caroline Glover. Those interviews covered a lot of information - here is everything you need to know about the Restaurants Act.
What is the IRC?
The Independent Restaurant Coalition is a coalition of independent restaurant and bar owners that are fighting to save small restaurants and bars that have been affected by COVID-19. It is no secret that restaurants have struggled after being forced to shut down or limit indoor dining, but most people don’t realize how much restaurants have suffered. Andrew Zimmern spoke about an extinction event for restaurants if the Restaurants Act is not passed with between 70 to 85% of restaurants closing.
What is the Restaurants Act?
The Restaurants Act would establish the Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund, $120 billion that would go towards assisting restaurants and bars impacted by COVID. It is a bill that was introduced on a bipartisan basis in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Independent Restaurant Coalition website states the Revitalization Fund would generate up to $271 billion in economic returns which is enough to provide restaurants with the resources and support needed for the months and years ahead.
Everyone is suffering right now so why are restaurants so important?
Restaurants play a vital role in our economy and they were one of the hardest hit industries. 1 in 4 jobs lost during the pandemic came from restaurants and bars. 11 million people are directly employed by restaurants and 5 million workers are employed up and down the food supply and delivery chain who depend on restaurants. To add another mind-blowing statistic, there are 500,000 small businesses across this country which play a key role in the $760 billion restaurant economy. Since the pandemic, food services account for over 10% of the decrease in GDP over quarter two in 2020. Bobby Stuckey spoke about these statistics and more in his episode.
Restaurants are also pass throughs for other industries. Restaurants are a keystone species, a species on which others in an ecosystem largely depend. Nina Compton and Caroline Glover both spoke about how their linen companies took a hit when restaurants shut down. It is not only linen companies but suppliers, butchers, bakeries, farmers, breweries, and all other businesses that come in contact with restaurants take a hit when restaurants struggle.
Still think restaurants aren’t that important? Andrew Zimmern reminded everyone that restaurants are the top employers of single mothers, returning citizens, and the second top employer of immigrants. Restaurants are the number one employer of first-time job seekers.
What’s happening with the Restaurants Act now?
The Restaurants Act is currently sitting in Congress. There is one version in the House of Representatives that is a part of the Heroes Act and another version in the Senate. Unfortunately, stimulus talks have ceased, and the Senate has gone home until after the election. Restaurants will continue to struggle and close due to Congressional inaction in the days ahead of and after the election.
Why hasn’t the PPP helped?
The PPP did help however it was a loan which means it still has to be paid back. Caroline Glover spoke about how her restaurant had no loans before she got PPP and now she has debt that she will struggle to pay back. Restaurants who already had loans are now in an even worse situation.
Who has signed on to the Restaurants Act?
Below are two links to see who is signed on as co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7197/cosponsors
What can I do to help?
You can visit the IRC website (saverestaurants.com) and send a message to your Representatives and Senators through their messaging program. This will tell your Congressional representatives that the Restaurants Act is important to you.
How can I learn more?
You can watch the Best Served Together IRC series. In time order:
Shanita Bryant’s episode link- www.facebook.com/784719894980438/videos/381214776240319
Andrew Zimmern’s episode link - www.facebook.com/784719894980438/videos/1312663309115687
Nina Compton’s episode link - www.facebook.com/784719894980438/videos/271758940648502
Bobby Stuckey’s episode link - www.facebook.com/784719894980438/videos/1693463914152840
Caroline Glover’s episode link - www.facebook.com/784719894980438/videos/993522577813596
You can also visit the IRC website.
Sophie Braker is Director of the Best Served Together Initiative for Best Served Podcast and Best Served Creative. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University, she decided to combine her passion for baking and her degree in Media to work in the food media industry. When Sophie is not working on the podcast, she can be found playing with her dog Massimo (named after Massimo Bottura) and watching the Great British Bake Off.
