President Biden's Powerful, Hopeful Message to the Nation May 1, 2021Dear Friends,Like many of you, I tuned into President Biden’s first joint address to Congress on Thursday night with a mix of anxiety and hope. And I felt the powerful gaze of history as he addressed Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.“Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it's about time.”Throughout his speech, President Biden marked the nation’s progress in his first 100 days and his Administration’s ongoing work not only to rescue, repair and renew our nation, but to rebuild in a way that makes us healthier, safer, more prosperous and more just. President Biden showed throughout his historic address that he understands what it takes, and what it means, to rescue our communities. He knows what we can achieve if we choose to invest in one another, and in the American people. With the American Rescue Plan, the American Jobs Plan and now his American Families Plan, President Biden has offered proposals toward a vision of service, of delivering real solutions the American people have long called for.His American Families Plan is the latest step in realizing that vision, a plan to invest in our kids, our families, and our economic future. It is a plan that powers the innovation and growth that will drive our economy for generations to come thanks to historic expansions in access to quality education and child care. Among other things, the American Families Plan:Makes education more affordable and expands opportunity though transformational investments byProviding universal access to high-quality, free Pre-K for 3- and 4- year-olds.Making two years of community college free for all Americans.Investing $9 billion to strengthen teacher pipelines and address shortages, increasing the number of teachers of color and supporting the growth of all teachers.Provides economic security to families and ensures everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the economy and care for themselves and their families byProviding comprehensive paid family and medical leave.Expanding nutrition assistance, school meal programs, and summer meal programs for children and families.Investing $1 billion in maternal health.Expands tax credits that help workers and families build economic prosperity byMaking the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit permanent.Making the Earned Income Tax Credit Expansion for Childless Workers permanent, benefitting 17 million low-wage workers.Lowering health care costs by making the American Rescue Plan’s health insurance premium reductions permanent.This is the kind of boldness that has always helped America become that more perfect union we have always strived to be. But make no mistake: we still have a long road and many great challenges ahead of us.The good news is that my sleeves—our sleeves—are already rolled up. I will stand with this administration in their push for long overdue reforms that uplift the cause of racial and environmental justice, to act on climate and confront America’s gun violence epidemic, to raise the bar of care as we face down our worsening addiction epidemic and the broader fallout we are seeing in Americans’ mental health. When I disagree, I will continue to say so. And I will always work to improve every idea and policy proposal that crosses my desk. And I’ll keep listening to the strong voices in our Capital Region and beyond, and bringing your ideas to the debate. This pandemic has showed us that, more than anything, we are in this together. We need you. Because when we work together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.As always, thank you for reading.Your friend, DID YOU KNOW?Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:As of Friday April 30, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has begun registrations for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Applications will begin to be accepted on Monday May 3, 2021, at noon EDT. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.Established under the American Rescue Plan, and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023.In preparation, qualifying applicants should familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application, specifically byRegistering for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting Friday, April 30 at 9 a.m. EDT. If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the application portal.Reviewing the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart on SBA COVID-19 relief options. Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting restaurants.sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens.