Restaurant Revitalization Fund Unanimous Consent Request

On August 7, Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Bill Cassidy (D-LA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) sought unanimous consent, on the Senate floor, to approve legislation to provide $48 billion in additional Restaurant Revitalization Funds (RRF). There was an objection to the unanimous consent motion, blocking the measure from passing.
 
As it is difficult to pass a measure by unanimous consent (a single objector can block passage through this procedure) it is unsurprising that the legislation did not pass.  At the same time, it served a critical purpose – to continue to draw attention to the importance of funding outstanding RRF applications (the $48 billion would cover all outstanding applicants).
 
We appreciate the Senators’ ongoing efforts and will continue to advocate with them, and others, toward the goal of funding this program.