Restaurants are in trouble right now.

They’ve faced hurdle after hurdle. A pandemic. New variants. Cold weather making it harder to eat outside. They’ve gotten creative and worked so hard, but struggled to keep their doors open. So the American Rescue Plan included relief money for restaurants, bars, and food trucks. But it just wasn’t enough, and it’s already gone.

That’s why I’m co-sponsoring a bill to refill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, giving aid to the small restaurants and businesses that need it most. The Senate needs to take this up and get it done right away — restaurants are hanging by their fingernails and need relief now.

Will you fight by my side on this one? Add your name to support the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act.

There is nothing that is not made better by a good meal. After long days and weeks of fighting to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I’d catch up with Bruce at a restaurant where we always sat at the same booth and the owner knew our order by heart.

And a great restaurant can make good times even more delicious. The first time Bruce came to Houston to meet my family, I picked him up at the airport and drove him directly to my favorite Tex-Mex place. I ordered him a huge lunch, and he wolfed down every bite. At the end, he said he loved it. Right then, I knew this was a guy I could live with forever. And I’ve remembered that first meal there together every time we’ve gone back to visit.

Local, independent restaurants are a part of the fabric of our communities. That’s why we need to fight for them.

As we fight for replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, it should be our priority to make the fund simple and accessible. An expert chef shouldn’t have to become an expert in federal law to get relief. And let’s ensure those who didn’t get anything in the first go-around are taken care of this time.

It’s time to bang the drums on this — or take out a big spoon and hit the pot. I’m asking you to join me in supporting this bill to help make sure our communities can thrive and we can all enjoy more good meals at our favorite restaurants for years to come.

Sign your name here to become an official grassroots co-sponsor of the bill to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and help fight to keep our local economies strong.

Thanks for being a part of this,

Elizabeth

P.S. Restaurants need our help now more than ever to survive the harsh realities of a pandemic winter. If you can, please consider supporting small and independently owned restaurants in your area and giving them positive reviews!