Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Restaurant Association to discuss pressing issues facing the state’s restaurant industry. During the meeting, Durbin also spoke about the need for Congress to pass immigration reform, as immigrants play a crucial role in keeping the hospitality industry running.
Durbin went on to express his support for replenishing the Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which granted more than $1.4 billion to 4,542 Illinois restaurants and bars. The RRF was created by the American Rescue Plan, which Democrats passed in March 2021. Durbin is a cosponsor of the Continuing Emergency Support for Restaurants Act, which would provide an additional $48 billion for the RRF.
“Illinois restaurants are the lifeblood of our communities. In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, Illinois restauranteurs showed resilience while Democrats worked persistently to provide them with the aid they needed,” said Durbin. “In my meeting with the Illinois Restaurant Association today, we discussed how I can continue to be a federal partner to Illinois’ restaurant industry as it deals with the ongoing economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Photos of the meeting are available here.
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