Restaurant group getting relief funds thanks GOP lawmakers who opposed bill

The Independent Restaurant Coalition is thanking several lawmakers for including a $28.6 billion grant program for the industry in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law Thursday — including two Republicans who voted against it.

The group, which has been advocating for the program throughout the pandemic, thanked Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in a statement praising President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) for helping the industry.

Wicker and Fitzpatrick voted against the $1.9 trillion relief bill, as did every other congressional Republican.

The bill included the grant program for restaurants and bars, which was modeled after legislation introduced in April by Wicker and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in the Senate and Fitzpatrick and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) in the House. 

“Independent restaurants and bars put their heads together to make this happen against all odds. Today would not be possible without the support of our champions in Congress — Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Roger Wicker and Kyrsten Sinema and Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick fought with us every day to save restaurants,” said Erika Polmar, executive director of the coalition. 

The coalition, which has led the effort for a targeted restaurant fund, also thanked Wicker on Twitter and later replied to criticism over the tweet, saying they are thankful for his work. 

“You are right, Senator Wicker did not vote for the package (we wish all members did!), but his work on the RESTAURANTS Act from the beginning made the relief fund possible. We are grateful for that work,” the group tweeted on Wednesday. 

We appreciate the comments here. You are right, Senator Wicker did not vote for the package (we wish all members did!), but his work on the RESTAURANTS Act from the beginning made the relief fund possible. We are grateful for that work.

— Independent Restaurant Coalition (@IndpRestaurants) March 11, 2021

The National Restaurant Association also thanked Wicker and Fitzpatrick when the House passed the legislation on Wednesday.

“We thank the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in guiding this legislation, and the bipartisan efforts of Sens. Roger Wicker and Kyrsten Sinema and Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Brian Fitzpatrick. Their work in refining the RESTAURANTS Act on behalf of all restaurants gives chefs, owners, and employees around the country new hope,” said Sean Kennedy, the National Restaurant Association’s executive vice president of public affairs.

Wicker on Wednesday tweeted that “independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief” through the passage of the American Rescue Plan.

He told reporters later that day, “One good provision in a $1.9. trillion bill doesn’t mean I have to vote for the whole thing.” 

“I was for that bill, introduced that bill, long, long before this legislation,” Wicker added.

He and Sinema proposed an amendment to include the funding to the final coronavirus relief package.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had predicted this week that GOP lawmakers would vote against the COVID-19 relief bill and then try to take credit for things it includes. 

“I might say for our Republican colleagues who — they say ‘no’ to the vote, and they show up at the ribbon-cuttings or the presentations,” Pelosi said.

“That’s unfortunate,” she added. “As I said, they’ll take some credit for it in their districts.”

—Updated at 6:04 p.m.