December 12, 2020
Dear friends,
For the first time this week, we lost more than 3,000 Americans in a single day to this pandemic. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that we should expect this devastating loss of life to continue for at least the next 60 days. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths all continue to reach scary new heights. Our communities need a rescue, and every day of delay adds to the cost in lives and livelihoods lost.
Regular readers of my newsletter will remember that I have taken particular steps to help one industry that is suffering acutely without federal help: our restaurants. The data make it clear that our food and drink establishments are on the brink.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has forced more than 110,000 U.S. restaurants to close.
- The National Restaurant Associations estimates one in six restaurants have closed permanently.
- In April, 5.5 million of America’s restaurant workers lost their jobs—more than a quarter of all job losses that month.
The numbers are grim for our restaurants here in New York State, where an estimated 8,333 NYS restaurants have been forced to close this year. In a survey released recently by the New York State Restaurant Association, 54 percent of New York restaurants said they will not survive the next six months without federal relief.
Many of our Capital Region restaurants have thrived here for years and even decades. They are treasured institutions that have been in business for generations, building prosperity, job opportunities and cultural and culinary delights for our many. I held a roundtable to hear from many of them earlier this year and have pushed to advance legislation—H.R. 7197, the RESTAURANTS Act—to get them the lifeline many will need to survive.
Sadly, my Republican colleagues in the Senate have refused to take up this emergency measure. Now, many of our local restaurants are grappling with the impossible choice between shutting down their businesses or remaining open amidst the death and devastation of this pandemic.
Our legislation would create a $120 billion restaurant revitalization fund, available to independent establishments—restaurants not publicly traded or part of a chain with 20 or more locations—which make up more than three-quarters of America’s restaurants and bars. The bill also prioritizes small locally-owned restaurants and directs $60 million towards outreach and engagement to restaurants owned and operated by women, veterans, and people of color.
In the time it has taken to push for Senate passage of this common-sense restaurant rescue, some local restaurateurs have told me they had to make the heartbreaking decision to close permanently.
This is unacceptable. Our restaurants are on their last legs and more are boarding up every day while Senate Republican leaders play politics with our lives and livelihoods.
We need them to stop the delays and vote to send our RESTAURANTS Act to the President’s desk and save our cherished main street establishments.
Our RESTAURANTS Act now has more than 200 co-sponsors in the House. We passed this bill in October in the compromise version of our Heroes Act rescue package.
The resilience of our restauranteurs is truly inspiring. But they cannot go on much longer without help. And I could say the same of countless workers, families and small businesses that are reaching their limit. My colleagues and I have passed numerous rescue bills through the House and Republican leaders, including President Trump, just sit on their hands.
Our nation is at a turning point and for too many it threatens to be a breaking point. Senate Republicans must join with us to get our nation to the other side of this pandemic, guided by science and with critical investments that enable our communities to rebuild safely. Too much is at stake for us to give up now.
Thank you for enduring. The end is in sight. We must do all we can to build a bridge that carries as many of us as possible from here to there.
Your strength continues to inspire and drive everything I do.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout the COVID-19 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 are a few recent developments that may be of interest to you:
- A page on IRS.gov has information on the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and 2020 individual income tax returns.
- Eligible individuals can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR. These forms can also be used by people who are not normally required to file tax returns but are eligible for the credit.
- Taxpayers may be able to claim Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2020 circumstances if:
- They are eligible but were not issued an Economic Impact Payment, or
- Their Economic Impact Payment was less than the full amount to which they’re ultimately eligible, $1,200 ($2,400 if married filing a joint return) plus $500 for each qualifying child they had in 2020.
- For additional information see Recovery Rebate Credit on IRS.gov.
