Congressman Panetta Co-Introduces the RESTAURANTS Act Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Supports Independent Restaurants Through New Revitalization Fund

SALINAS, CA – On Friday, June 19 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced that he co-introduced the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act of 2020, H.R. 7197.  This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will establish a $120 billion revitalization fund to help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing the industry because of COVID-19 and support the reemployment of workers.  Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is the sponsor of the legislation.

“Restaurants are the bread and butter of the hospitality industry on the Central Coast, and a critical part of our economy and community.  These establishments have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and restaurant workers are at risk of permanently losing their jobs without further action from Congress,” said Congressman Panetta.  “I am proud to co-introduce the RESTAURANTS Act, which would create a $120 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund for restaurants to cover essential expenses to help make up for lost revenues during this crisis, and provide relief to the workers who make our restaurant industry such a success.”


Restaurants have been uniquely devastated by COVID-19.  In April alone, 5.5 million restaurant workers lost their jobs, accounting for 27% of total job losses in the month.  Without further action from Congress, over 11 million independent restaurant workers are at risk of permanently losing their jobs.  Restaurants are facing months of massive revenue losses due to social distancing, rising costs of supplies, new expenses for personal protective equipment, and a decrease in the public’s willingness to dine out.

The RESTAURANTS Act has the support of the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC).  In April, the group sent a letter to Congress calling for the creation of a stabilization fund.  In May, the Independent Restaurant Coalition discussed plans for a restaurant stabilization fund at a meeting with President Trump and senior White House officials.



“Representative Blumenauer and Senator Wicker's bipartisan Restaurant Revitalization Fund has given America’s 500,000 independent restaurants a day of hope,” said the Independent Restaurant Coalition.  “The need for relief for independent restaurants cannot be overstated in a time of so much uncertainty.  Independent restaurants that had limited openings are now closing again.  Many still wait for Paycheck Protection Program loans and are accumulating more and more debt in the process.  This is about more than preserving our most cherished places of celebration and gathering– it’s about bringing a massive economy of over 16 million workers and billions of dollars in spending back to life.  The revitalization fund is a smart investment that would contribute more than two dollars to the economy for every one dollar spent and ensure millions of Americans have a shot at keeping their job.  If Congress steps up and passes the RESTAURANTS Act today, our independent restaurants will deliver for the economy tomorrow.”

There are approximately 500,000 independent restaurants in the United States, which account for approximately 76% of the 658,000 total restaurants and bars in the United States.  According to a recent study, about 5.9 million restaurant jobs (an estimated 4.5 million of which are from independent restaurants) have vanished within a matter of weeks— the most of any industry and nearly double the figure from the next most affected industry.

In addition, the study found that 85% of independent restaurants are likely to close by the end of the year if direct aid like the stabilization fund is not provided to the industry.  Independent restaurants are more at risk of permanently going out of business due to the pandemic because consumer spending at these establishments has been disproportionately affected and they lack the same access to capital markets.  In whole, the Stabilization Fund will generate at least $183 billion in primary benefits and $65 billion in secondary benefits—more than double the amount of the proposed grants.

The legislation was introduced in the House alongside Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Adam Smith (D-WA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Susan Wild (D-PA).  Accompanying legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons, (D-DE), and Doug Jones (D-AL).