The House Small Business committee on Wednesday voted to approve a budget reconciliation bill that would provide $25 billion in relief to restaurants, moving the proposed bailout one step closer to a full House vote.
The budget amendment — part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill — is based on the $120 billion RESTAURANTS Act calling for long-term relief for restaurants, which was reintroduced earlier this month. The Senate also passed a budget resolution amendment Feb. 4 indicating bipartisan support for restaurant industry relief. The move is an attempt to push through some measure of restaurant industry relief without the need for Republican support.
During the week of Feb. 15, the House Budget Committee is expected to put the legislative package together for a vote. The full House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the relief package the week of Feb. 22, with a Senate vote to follow if it passes.
Here’s what we know so far about the restaurant relief fund based on the RESTAURANTS Act bill that was originally proposed by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D.-Ore.) during the 2020 Congressional session. The bill was passed by the House in October, but was never introduced under the then-Republican-led Senate.
- The $25 billion round of funding would be divided into government-funded grants with a maximum of $10 million per restaurant group or $5 million per individual restaurant location.
Read more about what the $25 billion RESTAURANTS Act means for small business owners, in Restaurant Hospitality.
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